Background
AAU is strategically working to strengthen the use of AI in teaching and educational development. As part of this effort, a dedicated fund will be established in 2026 for pilot projects that investigate, develop, or test AI solutions in practice. The fund is intended to support initiatives that, in the long term, can create value across faculties, contribute to organizational learning, and promote knowledge sharing and capacity building.

Projects must have a clear purpose and a clearly defined target group within the field of education. Examples may include the development of new digital tools for UCloud or similar platforms, interdisciplinary collaborations, or the design of courses using AAU’s existing tools. It may also involve other initiatives that can strengthen students, faculty, and overall educational practices regarding AI in education.

To promote diversity and cross-disciplinary development, a key objective is to ensure broad representation of projects across AAU’s four faculties. All interested disciplines are therefore encouraged to submit applications.

Criteria and Requirements
Scalability
The project must have the potential to be transferred or applied to other educational programs or academic contexts following the pilot phase. 

Alignment with AAU’s Strategic Framework for AI in Education
The application must describe how the project contributes to the framework’s vision and priority areas:

Vision: AAU educates the responsible problem solvers of the future. Our students and educators actively, critically, and constructively engage in shaping AI’s future role within their disciplines.

Focus areas:
a) Specialists: AAU educates the AI specialists of the future.

b) AI Competencies: AAU ensures that all students are AI-literate within their own field.

c) Computing Power and Tools: AAU provides a responsible, sustainable, and innovative AI infrastructure for education.

d) AI and PBL: AAU actively explores AI’s transformative potential for education and helps shape the problem-based learning institution of the future.

Requirements for knowledge sharing
To ensure mutual benefit, all projects must, by the end of the year, submit:

•        A self-explanatory poster presenting the project’s objectives, methodology, and results

•        A draft for an abstract for AAU Learning Day 2027

In addition to the above, the recipients of the grant must participate in ongoing knowledge sharing through monthly joint status meetings.

Use of AAU’s infrastructure
Where possible, projects must utilize AAU’s existing digital and technical solutions, including:

·         UCloud

·         AAU’s generative AI tools

·         HPC resources (e.g., AI-LAB)

·         Aalborg University Learning Platform (Moodle)

·         Library and data support via Aalborg University Library

·         (Please note; Mistral is not an option for educational activities, as it is currently a pilot for researchers – Please contact us for alternative options in our infrastructure!)

Financial framework
The fund is expected to support a number of pilot projects with a maximum grant of DKK 150,000 per project.

The projects must be completed and reported by the end of 2026, and all expenses must be incurred within the 2026 financial year.

The fund can finance:

·         funding for project staff

·         external or internal development

·         technical solutions and AAU-compliant licenses

The fund does not finance:

·         conferences (including travel expenses), or conference submissions

·         operating costs not directly related to the project

Project participation and management
All project managers must:

•        participate in monthly cross-functional status meetings

•        collaborate with a designated contact person from the Working Group on AI in Education

•        actively contribute to shared learning and progress

Application Content (max. 2 pages)
The application must include:

·         The project’s value for the education sector, including expected impact in relation to the strategy (see above)

·         Description of opportunities for scaling to other academic environments

·         Project description:

o   purpose, background, and target audience

o   project plan: activities, phases, and milestones

o   project organization: participants, partners, and contact persons

o   budget: total funding requirement and cost overview

Process and Timeline
·         Call for proposals: April 2026

·         Application deadline: May 11, 2026

·         Evaluation and selection by the Vice Rector: late May

·         Notification and project launch: early June 2026

·         Project period: early June – mid-December 2026

·         Evaluation and knowledge sharing: mid-December – end of December 2026

 

Applications must be submitted to ai-education@aau.dk by May 11, 2026.

Contact ai-education@aau.dk for questions.

Expected notification: Week 22, 2026.