AI EU-phoria? Exploring International Sentiments on the Use of AI in Higher Education

The onset of artificial intelligence (AI) tools has affected various areas in business and society. AI has also begun changing the way higher education institutions carry out their work, leading educators, students, and university staff to adapt to the peculiarities of AI. While research has begun investigating the impact of AI tools on higher education, these studies largely focus on specific countries, lacking the integration of international perspectives. Since there is a need for information on available resources and cultural differences, this integration should prove highly beneficial to help countries develop strategies to enable a safe, inclusive, and sustainable use of AI in higher education. We conducted five focus group interviews with N = 38 participants from three EU countries (Germany, Spain, and Greece), combining international experiences in the use of AI in higher education, possible benefits and challenges, and requirements for a sustainable use. Using a collection of different methodical approaches, we fostered an open exchange with teachers, students, and staff from higher education. Our preliminary findings offer a cross-national perspective on the use of AI in higher education.