About project
What is BrAIn?
Application of digital technologies based on artificial intelligence in education - BrAIn is a CARNET project that provides support for the systematic digital transformation of schools.
What do we want to achieve?
The project's ultimate goal is to achieve greater student involvement in the educational process through modernising the curriculum, educational materials, and adapting learning and teaching methodologies through coexistence with digital technology.
What are the specific objectives?
- Guide and monitor the impact of digital technologies on education with the aim of raising the digital competences of students and teachers
- Provide better insight into student achievements and contribute to a personalized approach to the development of each student
- Ensure high availability of digitised educational services through more efficient, accessible, and sustainable network management and cyber security.
Project financing
Ukupan iznos projekta je 15 993 222,00 EUR od čega je 85% sredstava osigurano iz sredstava Europske unije i Europskog socijalnog fonda (ESF+).
Project duration
From September 1, 2023 to September 1, 2029.
Key benefits
- For students: development of digital competences, better insight into their own progress, personalised learning.
- For teachers and schools: structured curricula, digital content, smart insights and recommendations, better online reliability.
- For the system: standardised data, ethical application of AI, strengthened cyber security, compliance with EU regulations.
Project partners
- Agency for Vocational Education and Adult Education (ASOO)
- Catholic University of Croatia
- Croatian AI Association
Want to join the project?
A public call has been opened for educators who want to improve their skills and prepare students for the challenges of the digital age.
Applications are open until August 31, 2029.
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Curricula for primary and secondary schools
In the BrAIn project, we have developed and are implementing curricula for extracurricular activities (elementary school) and elective subjects (secondary school) for the development of digital competences, critical thinking about emerging technologies (including artificial intelligence) and practical work with them.
Through the curriculum, students are introduced to the potential of digital technology and artificial intelligence, and their impact on life. They are taught about the ethical and social perspectives of artificial intelligence, the benefits and dangers, advantages and disadvantages of using different digital technologies, including artificial intelligence.
Through an elective course and extracurricular activity, students actively study and critically reflect on digital technologies and artificial intelligence, work directly with innovative technologies and artificial intelligence, all while taking cybersecurity into account.
Recommended implementation
- Extracurricular activity: 7th and 8th grade of elementary school (possible in other grades according to the school's capabilities).
- Optional course: 2nd and 3rd grade of secondary school (flexible depending on the school).
Status
- Experimental implementation: academic year 2024/2025, while collecting feedback.
- Curriculum revision: 2025/2026 based on the results of experimental implementation.
- Regular implementation: from 2025/2026 until the end of the project (August 31, 2029).
Curricula
- Extracurricular activities curriculum for 5th and 6th grade elementary school students
- Extracurricular activities curriculum for 7th and 8th grade elementary school students
- Curriculum for an optional course for 2nd and 3rd grade high school students.
What do students get?
Through play, exploration, and practical tasks, students will acquire fundamental knowledge and skills and develop responsible behavior in a digital environment. The goal is to equip them to work responsibly, practically, and creatively with emerging technologies, while maintaining a critical attitude towards them.
Digital educational content
We develop digital learning and teaching materials in line with curricula, with an emphasis on topics that are less accessible in the Croatian language.
Programs for educational staff
Teachers, lecturers, professional associates and principals undergo live training, webinars, e-courses and workshops at locations. The trainings help them in the application of the curricula and cover topics key to the implementation of the developed curricula. They are aimed at developing professional knowledge, skills and attitudes on curriculum topics and provide ideas for the implementation of teaching activities.
Webinars held:
Webinar 1: Artificial intelligence – beginnings, development and future challenges
Presentation I Manual I Webinar recording
Webinar 2: Unlock the power of artificial intelligence – AI tools that make everyday life easier
Presentation I Manual I Webinar recording
Webinar 3: Transform your teaching – learning and teaching with AI
Presentation I Manual I Webinar recording
Webinar 4: Ethical literacy in the gigital age: Understanding the social and ethical challenges of using Artificial Intelligence
Presentation I Manual I Webinar recording
Workshops held:
Workshop 1: AI Classroom – Tools, Applications and Teaching Strategies
Presentation I Manual
Workshop 2: Tools of the future – creating educational content using artificial intelligence
Presentation I Manual
The dates of new educations will be published on these pages in due course.
Research
We continuously disseminate recommendations for the benefit of using technology (policymakers, employees, students, parents).
Partners will be selected through a public call and will participate in both phases.
Two phases:
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- Pilot research:
In the 2024/2025 school year, a pilot study was conducted involving primary and secondary school students, their parents/guardians, and teachers, professional associates, and principals. The aim was to examine initial insights into the manner and frequency of use of digital tools, as well as their possible effects on the emotional, social, and cognitive functioning of children and young people. In addition to quantitative, the study also included qualitative approaches in order to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of all groups involved.
- Pilot research:
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- Main research:
Based on the results of the pilot study, the main research will be conducted in the period from 2025 to 2028. It will include a larger and more representative sample and enable the development of scientifically based recommendations on the safe, meaningful and encouraging use of digital technology in education. The Catholic University of Croatia will also take on a role in the development of the Framework for Digital Literacy and Student well-being and, through cooperation with CARNET throughout the project, will contribute to the formation of national guidelines for the application of digital technologies based on artificial intelligence.
- Main research:
Expected result: conducted research on the impact of digital technologies on students and developed curricula for the development of digital competences.
The goal is to build a system that provides insight into student achievements and suggests personalised learning paths – to discover affinities and optimize outcomes.
1. Analysis of stakeholder and user needs
• Focus groups with key stakeholders and end users.
• Solution concept development, iterative verification and development coordination.
2. Ethical and pedagogical norms
• Special attention to the impact of automation and AI.
• Privacy-by-design and responsible data use.
3. Upgrading existing systems and data standardisation
• Enhancements to data collection through open, standardised protocols and integration into the analytics ecosystem.
4. Communication platform
• Secure and efficient messaging between all stakeholders.
• Additional insight into user needs and habits.
5. Building a smart recommendation system
• Data mining methods and predictive analytics.
• Development and application of predictive models on real data.
• Benefit for teachers: tracking digital achievements and personalised approach.
• Benefit for students: better understanding of their own achievements and guidance for learning.
• Benefits for parents and schools: insight into progress, warnings and detection of deviations.
6. Stakeholder education
• Online and live programs for proper interpretation and use of the system.
7. Infrastructure
• Resources in CARNET data centers for applications, data storage and supporting services.
The Virtual Learning Assistant is an information system being developed as part of the BrAIn project. By using artificial intelligence and machine learning methods, it will provide an advanced tool for students, parents, teachers, school support staff, principals, and other stakeholders in the education system, enabling students to achieve learning outcomes defined in subject curricula at the highest possible level. In addition, it will offer deeper and more comprehensive insights into students’ achievements. Depending on the user’s role within the education system, the system will adapt accordingly. Students will have access to the primary Virtual Learning Assistant application, while teachers, principals, and support staff will gain deeper insights into student performance through analytical reports, dashboards, and statistics. The development of the application is planned in multiple phases, with each subsequent phase introducing additional features and more advanced functionalities.
Access to the Virtual Learning Assistant
The Virtual Learning Assistant will be available via mobile and web applications, with access provided through existing accounts such as AAI@EduHR.
Technologies used
The main mode of interaction with users will be through a chatbot, implemented using an open-source Large Language Model (LLM) tailored exclusively for learning support. In addition to text-based queries and responses, it will support voice input and output (speech-to-text and text-to-speech).
Data Sources
To provide the most accurate answers related to school content, CARNET has developed subject-specific textual materials in collaboration with teachers through public calls. These materials are based on official subject curricula and are the exclusive property of CARNET. The Virtual Learning Assistant will include subject content covering material from the 5th grade of primary school to the 4th grade of grammar school for most school subjects.
As additional data sources, it will use existing CARNET information systems such as e-Class Register (e-Dnevnik) and CARNET Data, but only with parental consent.
Teachers will also be able, in collaboration with students, to set learning goals related to their subject.
Personalised Learning Recommendations
Taking into account chatbot interactions, subject content, data from e-Dnevnik, and teachers’ guidance, the Virtual Learning Assistant will provide smart, personalised learning recommendations to students.
Infrastructure
The infrastructure powering the Virtual Learning Assistant system will be fully owned by CARNET, and the data used will not be exposed to third parties in any way.
Security is the foundation of working with confidential data. We develop materials and automated processes that support secure learning with personalized recommendations.
Automated incident resolution:
• Conceptual and main system design based on analysis of internal and external data.
• Addressing new threats and sophisticated attacks.
• Creation of the system and instructions for use and maintenance.
Early detection of vulnerabilities:
- Upgrading the .hr web space scanning system to detect vulnerable and compromised sites.
- Integration with incident processing automation system.
- Conceptual and technical documentation for upgrades.
Regulatory compliance:
• Harmonization of the incident reporting and processing process with the NIS 2 Directive (EU) 2022/2555 and national regulations.
• State of play, identification of key services and capacity adjustment of the National CERT.