[Principals' Conference] Equipping Institutions for the AI Era: Introducing the DEC AI Frameworks

Overview

[Principals' Conference - by Invitation Only] As AI rapidly transforms how we learn, teach, and work, education leaders face a dual challenge: empowering individuals with AI literacy and aligning institutions with the broader demands of an AI-driven future. This keynote introduces the Digital Education Council’s (DEC) two flagship frameworks: AI Literacy Framework and AI Readiness Framework, designed to guide schools and universities in this transition.

The AI Literacy Framework offers a practical, adaptable roadmap for embedding AI understanding across the student journey, teacher development, and curriculum strategy. It focuses on five core domains: awareness, critical thinking, creativity, responsible use, and applied proficiency. The goal is not just to equip students and teachers with tools, but to help them understand, challenge, and shape AI’s role in education and society.

Complementing this, the newly announced AI Readiness Framework provides a strategic lens for institutional leaders. Grounded in global use cases and contributions from 27 universities across 17 countries, this framework helps schools and higher education institutions assess and improve their AI maturity across ten key dimensions—ranging from governance and infrastructure to curriculum integration and stakeholder engagement.

This session will offer participants a unique opportunity to explore how these two frameworks can work in tandem: fostering both individual competencies and institutional capacity. Attendees will leave with actionable insights, practical tools, and a forward-looking view of how to lead their schools with confidence and clarity in the age of AI. Whether you’re just beginning your AI journey or seeking to scale your initiatives, this keynote will help you align purpose, pedagogy, and policy in shaping the future of education.