Education for the Future: A Virtual Event Promotes the Ethical and Pedagogical Use of Artificial Intelligence in Ibero-American Classrooms

On Tuesday, May 28, the virtual event “Education for the Future: Educational Resources on Artificial Intelligence for Ibero-American Teachers” took place—an initiative organized by the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI) and the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (FUNGLODE/GFDD), in collaboration with the Instituto Global de Altos Estudios en Ciencias Sociales (IGLOBAL) and Fundación Cruzando of Chile, and focused on the presentation of the Day of AI curriculum developed by MIT RAISE (Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education).

The event, broadcast via Zoom, brought together leading experts in education and technology, including Dr. Rodrigo Fábrega from Fundación Cruzando, Mónica Gomáriz, Ismael Gómez, and OEI Secretary-General Mariano Jabonero. The session featured a special address by President Leonel Fernández, former President of the Dominican Republic and President of Funglode.

President Fernández emphasized the importance of adapting educational systems to the technological revolution driven by artificial intelligence:

“We are living through a moment of profound transformation… In the past two years, artificial intelligence has rapidly begun to redefine how we live, work, and learn.”

In his remarks, he noted that this initiative aligns with UNESCO’s call to promote a human-centered approach to artificial intelligence, grounded in ethical, inclusive, and pedagogical principles. He also stressed the urgent need to develop digital competencies and critical thinking skills from an early age.

President Fernández gave special thanks to Lynda Rodríguez for her pivotal role in fostering strategic connections with international academic institutions, which led to strengthened collaboration with MIT RAISE, an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). As a result of this collaboration, the event featured the presentation of the Day of AI curriculum, now available in Spanish and Portuguese—an accessible, free resource designed to help educators introduce artificial intelligence in primary and secondary education.

President Fernández also highlighted the visit of Dr. Cynthia Breazeal, Dean for Digital Learning at MIT Open Learning and Founding Director of MIT RAISE, to the Dominican Republic. Her presence and insights during her time at Funglode served as an inspiration to all those committed to advancing the role of artificial intelligence in education.

The event attracted over 1,500 registered participants from 23 countries and featured simultaneous translation into Portuguese to expand its accessibility. It was also recorded and is available on the YouTube channels of FUNGLODE and the OEI, allowing a broader audience to benefit from the content beyond the live session.

During the event, Ismael Gómez, Global Director of Digital Strategy at the OEI, spoke about emerging educational trends and the impact of AI in the classroom. Dr. Rodrigo Fábrega, Director of Fundación Cruzando, presented the Spanish version of the Day of AI resources in a clear and practical manner, addressing both teachers and policymakers in a way that was accessible and highly relevant.

President Leonel Fernández concluded by expressing his gratitude to all participants and reaffirming his commitment to democratizing access to educational technology to prepare future generations for the challenges of the 21st century.

The event marked a significant step toward building a more prepared, connected, and AI-conscious educational community across Ibero-America.

The Spanish-language resources of the Day of AI curriculum, developed by MIT RAISE, are available at www.diadelainteligenciaartificial.org, while the Portuguese version can be found on the website of the OEI Training Institute (Instituto de Formación de la OEI): www.oei.int/instituto-de-formacion-oei. The English version is available at www.dayofai.org.

The Day of AI materials from MIT RAISE were translated into Spanish thanks to the efforts of Fundación Cruzando in Chile, and into Portuguese by the OEI, as part of the collaboration facilitated by Funglode and GFDD, who helped establish the connection between OEI and MIT RAISE.