Learnovate launches RAIL initiative on responsible Artificial Intelligence for teaching and learning

Learnovate, a leading global future of work and learning research hub in Trinity College Dublin, is leading a new Community of Practice for AI implementers and practitioners involved in teaching and learning.

The Responsible AI for Learning (RAIL) initiative will allow practitioners to share knowledge, interpret guidelines, and comply with AI regulations.

Learnovate is leading the RAIL initiative, which is made up of professionals from all four education domains, including schools, higher education, vocational education and training, and professional education, as well as representatives from the Department of Education, teaching unions, and other sectors.

RAIL was formed in November last year when more than 50 professionals in the education sector came together in Trinity College Dublin to discuss the need for a collective interpretation of the AI Advisory Council’s guidelines on the use of AI in education.

There was also agreement at the meeting on the need for a facility to share knowledge, discuss the opportunities and risks accompanying the use of AI in education, and support each other in complying with the EU AI Act.

RAIL will host its inaugural meeting on February 24 2026. The one-hour event is one of three virtual meetings set to take place this year, with a fourth in-person event to follow in November. Those wishing to attend the free event can register at www.learnovatecentre.org/events

The February 24 meeting will be led by Dr Gill Ferrell, Executive Director for Europe of 1EdTech, a global organisation promoting and supporting education standards and protocols for K-12 through to higher education and professional education. She will deliver a presentation to the event entitled, ‘A European and Global Perspective on AI in Education: Opportunity, Risk, and a Vision for the Future’.

Dr Ferrell’s expertise is in understanding, managing and guiding the use of technology in learning. She has held senior roles with Jisc, the agency that manages shared services for education institutions and provides advice and guidance to UK education, and has published research in curriculum, student data, social media, assessment and feedback, and design of learning spaces.  She has also worked with Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association (UCISA) and European University Information Systems Association (EUNIS).

The Community of Practice will be chaired in 2026 by Jonathan Dempsey, Commercial Lead for Diotima, an AI-enabled platform for formative assessment and feedback.

Diotima supports teaching practice using responsible AI to provide learners with feedback, leading to more and better assessments and improved learning outcomes for students, and a more manageable workload for teachers.

In 2025, Diotima received €500,000 in funding from the Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Fund, which helps third-level researchers to translate their research into innovative and commercially viable products, services and companies.

Diotima partnered with Learnovate in February last year and will spin out of Trinity College Dublin as a company in 2026.

The Learnovate Centre at Trinity College Dublin is a leading global future of work and learning research hub funded by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland.

Learnovate Managing Director Nessa McEniff said:

“Learnovate is delighted to lead the formation of Responsible AI for Learning, a new Community of Practice. The group was formed following the publication of the guidelines on the use of AI in education by the AI Advisory Council. Rather than try to interpret those guidelines in a silo, implementers and practitioners came together to establish a collective interpretation, share knowledge, and ensure compliance with AI regulations. We look forward to the inaugural virtual meeting of RAIL on February 24 2026, the first of four planned for 2026, including one in-person meeting in November.”

RAIL Chair and Diotima Commercial Lead Jonathan Dempsey said:

“Everyone involved in schools, higher education institutions, professional development, and vocational education and training are united by shared concerns around teachers and learners misusing AI. We want AI that is safe, accurate, fair, transparent, and focused on learning outcomes. We also want to ensure that all our stakeholders are maximising the potential of this amazing resource. RAIL will bring together learning professionals from all education domains and sectors to discuss common issues, interpret guidelines, and support each other ahead of the full rollout of the EU AI Act.”

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