Third coordinated Erasmus+ project for the development of learning design and analytics with artificial intelligence
Under the leadership of Professor Blaženka Divjak, the Faculty of Organization and Informatics (FOI) of the University of Zagreb (UNIZG) has ensured the continuation of development and research activities related to learning design, learning analytics and artificial intelligence in education. The SAILeR project – Streamlining AI in Learning Reimagination – with a budget of EUR 400,000 and duration from November 2025 to November 2028 is the third project coordinated by FOI in a series, funded by the EU through the Erasmus+ program, implemented by the FOI Learning Analytics Laboratory in partnership with renowned European universities.
A great success is the fact that the SAILeR project was approved as the first on the list in its category, with the highest number of points, and as the only project of the University of Zagreb in this Erasmus+ call, in which less than 10% of project applications were accepted.
In addition to FOI, the project will involve Goethe University Frankfurt (Germany), University of Oulu (Finland), Open University of Catalonia (Spain) and University of Groningen (Netherlands). Experts from the Open University (United Kingdom), Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium) and the UNIZG School of Medicine will also participate. This is a continuation, but also an extension of the cooperation developed through the previous Erasmus+ projects iLed – Innovating Learning Design in Higher Education and RAPIDE – Relevant Assessment and Pedagogies for Inclusive Digital Education.
As part of the RAPIDE and iLed projects, in collaboration with international partners, FOI has developed an innovative concept and a freely available learning design tool, applicable in different educational contexts, which is already used in more than 40 countries around the world: Balanced Design Planning (BDP) (learning-design.eu). The BDP tool enables teachers and other users to plan learning and teaching activities in a structured manner, in line with key pedagogical principles and innovative learning and teaching strategies, using contemporary technologies and insights from learning analytics.
The SAILeR project emphasizes the application of artificial intelligence in education and enables continued development of the tool and further research. The goal is to give a new perspective to learning design, starting from study programs and teachers’ innovative visions. Meaningful learning design and development of learning content will be supported by the application of learning analytics and artificial intelligence. However, the SAILeR project places great emphasis on teachers as “helmsmen” who manage the process, using the benefits of contemporary technologies in a targeted and responsible manner. Thus, the project aims to engage at least 1,000 teachers in Europe and beyond in various ways.
“Contemporary education cannot be implemented in old and “worn out” ways. We have to use technology, including artificial intelligence, but above all, engage human creative potential. The idea is not to reduce teachers’ and students’ cognitive load, which would be detrimental in the long run because they would not develop their cognitive “muscles”, but to support them in using technology to strengthen them.” Blaženka Divjak, project lead.
The recognized quality and excellence of such an innovative, sustainable and strong international approach is a strong incentive for the further development of innovations in education.
