Last week, the in-person phase of the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP), entitled "Artificial Intelligence for European University Alliances: Research, Teaching and Administration", took place in Málaga. This international event brought together experts, academics, and administrative staff from across Europe at the University of Málaga's Rectorate to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence and explore the implementation of digital transformation across European universities. The programme began on 18 May with a virtual introductory session and continued with the face-to-face component in Spain from 15th to 19th June.
The event was jointly organised by the University of Málaga (Spain), Technische Hochschule Würzburg-Schweinfurt (Germany), and The Hague University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands), all members of the UNINOVIS Alliance. The programme was coordinated by Ignacio Moreno-Torres (UNINOVIS Coordinator at the University of Málaga), together with Amparo Zamora Mogollo and Francisca Martín Vergara from the University's Central IT Services.
Keynotes and practical workshops
The programme featured several keynote speakers who examined the impact of artificial intelligence from different perspectives. Francisco Rejón Guardia explored the potential of AI agents as teaching assistants, while Jorge Villalobos Portales and María Luisa Gómez Jiménez focused on the ethical challenges associated with implementing these technologies in today's higher education environment. The BIP also included practical workshops, enabling participants to design and develop their own AI agents.
International collaboration
The sessions highlighted a strong commitment to international collaboration, bringing together representatives from several UNINOVIS partner universities, including THUAS, USPN, KK, UDCLV, and UMA. In addition, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the University of Maribor (Slovenia) attended the event. Catering services were provided by Down Málaga, reflecting the organisers' commitment to social inclusion and community engagement.
Participant outcomes
The final evaluation of the BIP revealed a highly positive impact on participants' professional development. Attendees rated the sessions as highly useful and relevant, with the vast majority reporting that they had acquired new knowledge and skills. There was unanimous agreement that the programme represented a significant improvement in their technological competencies.
This achievement is particularly noteworthy considering that many participants had no prior experience in designing AI agents; by the end of the programme, however, they were able to develop their own independently.