As discussions around artificial intelligence and digital transformation continue to shape education policy across Europe, Bucerius Law School is playing an active role in these critical conversations.
Lezel Roddeck co-writes European report on explainable AI
Lezel Roddeck, Director of Foreign Language Communication, contributed as a legal expert to the recently published report Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) in Education: Fostering Human Oversight and Shared Responsibility—an output of the European Digital Education Hub (EDEH) and part of the European Commission’s broader efforts to promote trustworthy AI and digital transformation.
Legal guidance on dealing with AI systems in the education sector.
Roddeck served as a contributing expert to the EDEH working group that authored the report. Her chapter, "Navigating Compliance with the EU AI Act, the GDPR, and Related Digital Laws," provides legal guidance to institutions and developers seeking to understand and operationalise transparency requirements under new EU legislation.
Guiding principles: transparency, fairness and protection of rights.
“Education is one of the most sensitive and socially significant domains affected by AI,” Roddeck commented. “Ensuring that AI systems used in these settings are transparent and legally compliant is not only a regulatory requirement but also a matter of fairness, trust, and democratic accountability.”
The report forms part of a wider initiative by the European Commission to support the ethical and responsible deployment of AI in education. It examines how the AI Act—which classifies many educational AI applications as “high-risk”—intersects with existing legal obligations and core educational values.
Bucerius Law School represented at Brussels Community Workshop with 30 experts
Bucerius Law School’s involvement in this initiative was further reflected at the European Digital Education Hub Community Workshop in Brussels (17–18 October 2024), where Lezel Roddeck was selected alongside 30 other experts and policymakers to explore how explainability in AI can be practically implemented across classrooms, universities, and vocational training institutions. Hosted by the European Commission, the workshop featured sessions led by leading figures in digital policy, including Georgi Dimitrov (Head of Digital Education, European Commission), and addressed issues ranging from generative AI in teaching to data ethics and human-centred system design.
Together, the workshop and report highlighted several key policy recommendations:
- Establishing standards for data explainability and AI transparency in education,
- Creating regulatory “sandboxes” to test AI applications prior to large-scale implementation,
- Encouraging AI literacy among educators and students, and
- Promoting multi-stakeholder collaboration for AI development in educational contexts.
Roddeck’s work in this field reflects Bucerius Law School’s ongoing commitment to engaging in European and international debates on the future of education, law, and technology.
