ALFA Labs: Shaping the Future of AI in Higher Education and Beyond

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly reshaping the way we teach, learn, and work. But to truly leverage its potential, higher education institutions need more than just technology. They need the readiness, skills, and strategic vision to integrate AI in a way that’s accessible, ethical, and impactful. That's where ALFA Labs comes in.

This ambitious Erasmus+ KA220 Cooperation Partnership initiative, with a funding allocation of €400,000 over 36 months, brings together four HEIs and four associate partners from the Ulysseus European University Alliance to:

• Advance digital capabilities in the use of AI across higher education.

• Increase digital transformation through readiness, resilience, and capacity-building.

• Host AI Living Labs, both virtual and physical, to test and refine real-world applications.

As the representative for MCI | The Entrepreneurial School®, I contribute as a Senior Instructional Designer and Digital Transformation Expert. My role includes:

• Coordinating the Digital Transformation Plan for AI in higher education.

• Leading interviews and connecting stakeholders across our extensive Ulysseus network, and beyond.

• Developing AI-driven lesson plans, micro-credentials, and learning environments that meet the needs of both academia and industry.

• Working closely with leaders from partner universities and corporate partners to ensure that our deliverables align with real-world workforce and business demands.

Why this matters for enterprises:

• Talent readiness: Graduates trained with hands-on AI applications will enter the workforce with immediately applicable skills.

• Corporate collaboration: Businesses can co-shape modules, living lab challenges, and micro-credentials to ensure training reflects current and future needs.

• Innovation pipeline: The AI Living Labs provide a platform where companies can test, validate, and adapt ideas in collaboration with academia.

Expected outcomes include:

• A Digital Transformation Plan for AI as an accessible, assistive technology in HEIs.

• An AI Readiness Scale to help institutions and companies assess their digital maturity.

• The ALFA Kit: practical resources to transfer digital skills to educators and trainers.

• AI-driven lesson plans, a MOOC, and micro-credentials focused on applied AI in learning environments.

For me, this is more than a project. It's a blueprint for bridging the gap between education and industry. By integrating AI not only as a technology, but as a strategic capability, we can equip both institutions and companies to thrive in a digital-first world.