UNESCO: AI Competency Framework for Students

Summary of Read Full Report

This UNESCO publication presents a global framework for AI competency in students. Recognizing the increasing role of AI, it argues for proactive education to prepare responsible users and co-creators.

The framework outlines twelve competencies across four dimensions: human-centered mindset, ethics of AI, AI techniques and applications, and AI system design, each with three progression levels. It aims to guide educators in integrating AI learning objectives into curricula, emphasizing critical judgment, ethical awareness, foundational knowledge, and inclusive design.

The document also discusses implementation strategies, teacher professionalization, pedagogical approaches, and competency-based assessments for AI education.

• The UNESCO AI competency framework for students aims to equip students with the values, knowledge, and skills necessary to thrive in the AI era, becoming responsible and creative citizens. It is the first global framework of its kind, intended to support the development of core competencies for students to critically examine and understand AI from holistic perspectives, including ethical, social, and technical dimensions.

• The framework is structured around 12 competencies spanning four dimensions: Human-centred mindset, Ethics of AI, AI techniques and applications, and AI system design, across three progression levels: Understand, Apply, and Create. This structure is designed to provide a spiral learning sequence across grade levels, helping students progressively build a systematic and transferable understanding of AI competencies.

• The framework is grounded in key principles that include fostering a critical approach to AI, prioritizing human-centred interaction with AI, encouraging environmentally sustainable AI, promoting inclusivity in AI competency development, and building core AI competencies for lifelong learning. It embodies UNESCO's mandate by anchoring its vision of AI and education in principles of human rights, inclusion, and equity.

• The primary target audience for the AI CFS includes policy-makers, curriculum developers, providers of education programmes on AI for students, school leaders, teachers, and educational experts. The framework is intended to serve as a guide for public education systems to build the competencies required for the effective implementation of national AI strategies and the creation of inclusive, just, and sustainable futures. It is designed as a global reference that needs to be tailored to the diverse readiness levels of local education systems.

• The framework envisions students as active co-creators of AI and responsible citizens. It emphasizes the importance of critical judgment of AI solutions, awareness of citizenship responsibilities in the era of AI, foundational AI knowledge for lifelong learning, and inclusive, sustainable AI design. Ultimately, the AI CFS aims to prepare students to not only use AI effectively and ethically but also to contribute to shaping its future development and relationship with society.