02 April 2025

Linköpings universitet (LiU) is investing SEK 3 million in the AIST lab, a new platform for research and education on AI in teaching. The goal is to develop and critically examine how AI can improve learning and teacher education.

Photographer: Jenny Widén

As digital technologies and AI become increasingly important in society, the need to understand how these tools can be used in an ethical and effective way in education is growing. A central part of LiU’s initiative is to develop AI literacy – an ability to critically examine and use AI technology in teaching.

- To create added value in the new knowledge processes that AI can contribute to, we need to understand what happens when technology is introduced into teaching. We must be able to critically examine the benefits and know when and where AI tools should be used and when they shouldn’t be used,” says Linnéa Stenliden, professor and one of the leaders of the project.

Simulations and virtual placements in teacher education

AI also opens up new opportunities for creating advanced simulations and virtual placements for teacher education. By using AI to develop more realistic training environments, future teachers can practice dealing with difficult and complex situations before facing them in real-world classrooms. Marcus Samuelsson, senior associate professor and expert on simulations in teacher education, sees great benefits coming from this development.

- We complement traditional forms of education with virtual placements and advanced AI simulations to develop key competencies. At the same time, this raises questions about ethical integration of AI.

AIST lab – a long-term investment for tomorrow’s education

The aim is for the AIST lab at LiU to become a long-term platform for research and education on AI in the school sector. By combining research with practical applications, LiU hopes to create new, effective methods for educating both teachers and students.

LiU’s investment in the AIST lab is part of the university’s larger vision of shaping future education by integrating digital skills in a sustainable and ethical way. This project has the potential to influence the development of teacher education both nationally and internationally and create a new standard for the use of AI in education.

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Short facts about AIST lab

AIST stands for Artificial Intelligence, Simulation and Teaching Laboratory and is a new LiU initiative that aims to promote research, learning and education with a focus on:

  • AI, simulation and teaching
  • Teacher education, but also other higher education
  • Collaboration with relevant actors

The goal is to create an arena where researchers, teachers, students and professionals can meet to discuss and develop tomorrow’s education using AI and simulation.