Can you describe the current state of data and AI literacy in Lithuania?

In 2018 The Ministry of Economy and Innovation of Lithuania started discussions with a group of experts on the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies and the importance of AI in the country. The Lithuanian Artificial Intelligence Strategy was prepared.

Currently, the topic of data and artificial intelligence are presented to students in a fragmented way in schools. However, in the final curriculum update of the Ministry of Education and Science for 2023, these topics are already included in the section of the computer science subject "Data Research and Information", as well as the section "Data and Probability" in the mathematics program.

Apart from this, the topics data literacy and AI will be included in the package of study programs if higher education institutions that train informatics teachers and/or in further education programs for teachers during 2022 and 2023.

What motivates the Lithuanian government and other public bodies to become part of policy experimentation projects like TrainDL?

Topics related to data and artificial intelligence are important and need to be properly presented to society and schools. Teachers need didactic knowledge in the process of providing knowledge, that is why attention should be paid to the possibility of teacher training. This issue is on the agendas of many countries, so it is important to share international experience and test the teaching of the mentioned topics. This motivates the agency and another Lithuanian institution to participate in the Train DL project.

What results are you hoping for in the upcoming years? What could be positive changes in data and AI education?

In the process of updating the national curriculum, recommendations for teachers on the implementation of the topics of data and artificial intelligence literacy will be developed, and programs to improve teacher qualifications will be created. Higher education institutions will organize seminars for teachers.

The main result of the school year 2022/23 should be the renewal of the national curriculum, which include the topics of data and AI literacy. The material of the Train DL project should help to perform these tasks better.