Artificial Intelligence is already becoming part of many workplaces. From agriculture and logistics to electricity networks and water management, organisations are using data and intelligent systems to improve efficiency, predict problems and support decision making.
For vocational educators, this raises an important question. What should learners actually know about AI?
The answer does not have to begin with coding.
For many learners, the most useful starting point is understanding what AI is, how it works at a basic level and how it is being applied within their chosen sector. Just as importantly, learners need to understand its limitations and know when human knowledge and judgement matter.
UNESCO has recently published practical guidance specifically for integrating AI into technical and vocational education. It stresses that AI education should keep educational purpose, human agency, equity and safety at its centre.
This approach closely reflects the thinking behind SUSTaiN.
The SUSTaiN Starter Kit provides educators with a practical introduction to Artificial Intelligence and machine learning. It is designed to make AI easier to understand before exploring more specific applications.
Educators can then take this further through the SUSTaiN Digital Toolkit, which introduces AI tools and considers how they might be applied professionally and within learning activities.
The goal should not be to introduce technology simply because it is new. A more useful classroom conversation begins with a problem.
Could technology help a farmer reduce unnecessary water use? Could an energy provider identify a fault earlier? Could better data improve a transport route? Could a water company identify leaks before large amounts of water are lost?
Questions like these turn AI from an abstract concept into something learners can discuss, question and apply.
SUSTaiN also encourages educators to explore these issues through practical activities and real examples. This helps learners build confidence while understanding that responsible AI use requires both technical knowledge and critical thinking.
The workplaces learners enter will continue to change. Giving them the confidence to understand and question new technologies may prove just as valuable as teaching them how to use any single tool.
Source: UNESCO, Integrating AI in TVET: A Practical Guide for Institutions.