At the UNICA Rectors’ Seminar 2026, the most recent meeting of UNICA (a network bringing together universities in European capital cities) which took place on 26 and 27 June at the University of Alcalá in Spain, NOVA University Lisbon was represented by Manuela Aparício, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Pedagogical Innovation, who contributed to the international debate on the future of artificial intelligence in higher education.
The session, entitled “Innovative Pedagogies in the AI Era: Latin America – Europe Perspectives”, examined the impact of artificial intelligence on higher education and the role of universities in adapting to this new reality.
In her contribution, Manuela Aparício argued “that artificial intelligence should be viewed as part of a broader transformation of educational ecosystems rather than simply as a technological tool”. She highlighted the need to bring together students, academic staff, institutional policies and societal expectations withn an approach that promotes the ethical, inclusive and pedagogically meaningful use of these technologies.
Among the main challenges identified, she highlighted the risks of student isolation, excessive dependence on digital tools, and the potential decline of critical reflection and human interaction in learning processes. In this context, she advocated strengthening academic staff’s capacity to use artificial intelligence responsibly and developing institutional guidelines based on transparency, accountability and human oversight.
Her intervention also addressed “the need to ensure that the use of artificial intelligence upholds the principles of academic integrity”. According to the approach presented by the Pro-Rector, these tools should support, rather than replace, students’ authorship, creativity, analytical capacity and critical thinking.
NOVA’s contribution formed part of a broader debate promoted by UNICA on the future of higher education. The seminar’s conclusions point to the need for universities to treat artificial intelligence as a strategic issue, with implications for pedagogy, institutional governance, university autonomy and the preparation of future generations for a rapidly changing labour market.
The seminar’s final report also highlights the importance of strengthening AI literacy, investing in the continuous professional development of academic staff, and promoting cooperation models capable of ensuring the ethical, inclusive and socially responsible use of these technologies.
Organised by the UNICA network, the seminar brought together representatives of universities and international organisations to discuss topics including academic cooperation, pedagogical innovation, artificial intelligence, democracy and human rights.