European Trade Union Committee for Education

ETUCE yesterday hosted the launch of the new ETUI–ETUCE publication Governing Artificial Intelligence in the Higher Education Sector, edited by Aída Ponce Del Castillo. The event gathered union representatives, academics and policymakers in Brussels for a timely conversation on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the higher education landscape—and what this means for the people who work in it.

Artificial intelligence is often presented as a neutral tool that will modernise universities and make teaching and research more efficient. The book makes clear that the reality is more complex. AI is fundamentally transforming governance and power relations within higher education: from procurement decisions that tie institutions to private technology providers, to automated systems that monitor, assess or guide academic work. These developments raise pressing questions about data use, privacy, accountability and the future of professional autonomy.

The volume also highlights the growing burden AI can place on academic staff. Far from reducing workload, digital systems can create new pressures, intensify monitoring, and reinforce metrics‑driven cultures that undervalue the qualitative nature of teaching and research. At the same time, AI-powered tools risk narrowing pedagogical approaches by reducing learning to measurable outputs, challenging academic freedom and the diversity of educational practice.

For ETUCE, these insights reinforce a crucial point: digitalisation must be governed democratically. Decisions about the introduction and use of AI systems cannot be left to vendors or institutional management alone. Educators, researchers and their unions must have a meaningful voice in shaping how these technologies are deployed, ensuring they support—not undermine—the public mission of higher education. The book provides concrete analysis, examples and recommendations to strengthen social dialogue and negotiate robust protections for workers’ rights, academic freedom and data governance.

Yesterday’s launch event, captured in a short video shared on our channels, underlined the urgency of these debates. As AI continues to advance, the choices made today will shape the future of universities for decades to come. ETUCE will continue to advocate for worker‑centred, transparent and democratic approaches to digitalisation across Europe.

The full publication is freely available and we strongly encourage colleagues, union members and policymakers to read and share it.