Our school participated in the International NEXT GEN AI Summit as the only school from Belgium. The summit took place from 8–13 October in Naples, Italy, and was an exceptionally well-organized event that brought together teachers and students from five continents, as well as participants from the host country, Italy.

As the only Belgian delegation, our school was represented by two S7 students, Saskia Pallamy and Antoni Moćkun, accompanied by their teacher, Ms. Marijana Smolcec. The invitation came from the Italian Ministry of Education and Merit as well as the host and organising school, Liceo Fanti from Carpi, whose teachers and students visited our school as part of an Erasmus+ exchange in March 2025.

Throughout the week, the students and teachers took part in a wide range of activities, including workshops, keynote speeches, and round-table discussions. They exchanged ideas and debated topics such as AI and Ethics, AI development, and the impact of emerging technologies on education and society. The students also gave numerous interviews, worked in international teams, and bonded with students from around the world. Ms. Smolcec  likewise contributed actively to an international teacher group tasked with creating a learning scenario on a selected topic using AI tools.

The event gathered more than 6,000 participants, including over 300 schools, 40 nationalities and featured contributions from experts affiliated with European Commission, the OECD, UNESCO, and leading global universities. It was an inspiring and enriching experience, offering a glimpse into the future of education in the age of artificial intelligence. To get a sense of the energy and enthusiasm of these remarkable days, you can watch the NEXT GEN AI video capturing the entire event.

There was also a lot of food for thought; we are sharing only a few highlights.

Mr. Mutlu Cukrova, Professor of Learning and Artificial Intelligence at University College London and policy expert, said: “Don’t confuse convenience with learning, especially when using AI”. UNESCO Chair on Open Technologies for Open Educational Resources and Open Education, Mr. Mitja Jermol, offered simple advice to students regarding AI: “Use common sense”. Meanwhile, Ms. Lidija Kralj, an education analyst and member of the European Commission’s working group on Artificial Intelligence, stated: “Technology has a role—but education should prevail above technology. Technology is just a tool!”

As stated on their official website “The International Summit NextGen AI is part of the broader Scuola Futura project, the Itinerant Campus of the PNRR Education Plan, which highlights the excellence of the Italian school system through training and guidance programs.”

For our students, this was more than an event, it was a glimpse into the world they will help create. Students praised the Naples experience, highlighting both its purpose and atmosphere. Saskia noted: ”Bringing together young people from around the world to discuss the future of AI is a brilliant idea”, stressing the importance of staying prepared and thinking critically. You can also watch Saskia’s short interview on the organiser’s official Instagram page here.  Antoni on the other hand added: “The trip was a very positive experience. The idea for a summit to gather students and teachers is fantastic.”

The summit not only broadened our perspectives but also strengthened our belief in the power of global collaboration and the future of education. To learn more about the Summit visit the link here.

Marijana Smolcec,

L2/L3 English teacher