Bridging Disciplines in Higher Education: The Convergence of AI and Sustainability

Abstract

[EN] The ‘digitalization lab sustAInability’ represents an educational initiative, bridging the realms of artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainability within an interdisciplinary, cross-university framework developed collaboratively by experts in computer science, political, social and economic sciences. The primary learning objective is to weave AI into the three dimensions of sustainable development – economy, society, and ecology – fostering a trans- and interdisciplinary understanding. This paper introduces a pioneering educational framework, focusing on how this course equips students as key architects of a sustainable future. Emphasizing the need for future competencies in sustainability of AI and AI for sustainability, the program not only educates but also acts as a platform for these critical issues across the involved universities and beyond. This program cultivates students who are equipped to handle the complex interplay between technology and sustainability in their future professional roles, contributing to societal, economic, and environmental advancement.