EdQwest Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence

Core Principles

At EdQwest, we believe that the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in educational technology must be responsible, ethical, and in full compliance with current regulations. As a company, we are committed to a “compliance-by-design” approach, ensuring that AI is developed and used in a manner that prioritizes human dignity, student well-being, and transparency. We align our practices with leading global standards, including the Council of Europe AI Treaty, the European Union AI Act, and early national AI regulations, as well as the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.

Our core principles guide our AI development and use:

  1. Human-Centric AI: AI systems must serve to enhance the educational experience while protecting human rights and ensuring equality, fairness, and transparency.
  2. Compliance by Design: Our AI systems are developed with compliance integrated into every stage, from conception to deployment, to ensure adherence to relevant regulations and ethical standards.
  3. Transparency and Accountability: We are committed to full transparency in the development and use of AI, providing stakeholders with the necessary information and oversight.
  4. Data Protection and Privacy: We strictly follow data protection laws, such as the  General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) , Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA), ensuring that user data is protected, and that users retain  control over their personal information.
  5. Ethical AI Practices: We promote the ethical use of AI, ensuring that AI tools do not introduce bias or discrimination, and that all students benefit equitably from AI-enhanced education.

AI Use within EdQwest

At EdQwest, AI is a fundamental part of our educational technology platform, and we utilize AI tools across several core functions of the business, including:

  1. Content Personalization: AI enables the personalization of learning experiences, adapting materials to meet individual student needs.
  2. Learning Management: AI assists in organizing, tracking, and managing student progress, helping educators make informed decisions.
  3. Tutoring and Support: AI-driven tools support tutoring services by recommending resources and providing real-time assistance.

Compliance with Regulations

In alignment with the EU AI Act and Council of Europe AI Treaty, we ensure that all AI systems meet strict regulatory standards. Our AI systems are open to audits, and we maintain full compliance with data privacy regulations. The outcomes of these audits will be made readily available to relevant stakeholders, including families, students, and schools, upon request.

AI in Product Design: Compliance by Design

Our design philosophy at EdQwest follows a “compliance-by-design” model. From the earliest stages of development, we ensure that AI systems are designed with legal, ethical, and regulatory considerations in mind. This includes:

  1. Risk Assessments: We promote thorough risk assessments of AI systems to identify potential biases, security vulnerabilities, or compliance risks.
  2. Ethical AI Practices: We integrate ethical guidelines from the Council of Europe AI Treaty and EU AI Act, ensuring that AI systems are free from discrimination and bias.
  3. Human Oversight: AI systems that impact educational outcomes, such as grading or student progress assessments, are subject to human oversight to ensure fairness and transparency.
  4. Documentation and Explainability: We document our AI systems thoroughly to ensure that stakeholders can easily understand how AI decisions are made.

We embed compliance checks into every phase of the development cycle, from prototyping to post-launch, ensuring ongoing adherence to all relevant laws and ethical standards

AI Use in Practice: Schools and Students

For schools and students, we design technology that helps ensure that AI is used responsibly and ethically. Our AI systems support educational goals while safeguarding students' rights and well-being. In practice, this means:

  1. Data Transparency: Students and educators are fully informed about how AI systems collect, process, and utilize data. We provide clear and accessible information to users about their rights and the use of their personal data.
  2. Educational Integrity: AI tools in the classroom are designed to support, not replace, human teaching. AI is used to enhance learning, but educators retain final control over the educational process.
  3. Ethical Use in the Classroom: We follow a non-punitive approach, guiding students in the appropriate and ethical use of AI, aligning with the best practices outlined in the Council of Europe AI Treaty.
  4. Inclusive Learning: We promote the regular auditing of AI systems to ensure they do not introduce bias and are accessible to all students, regardless of background.

Transparency and Audits

Transparency is a cornerstone of EdQwest's AI philosophy. We are committed to providing clear, accessible information to all users about how AI is used in our systems. Our transparency initiatives include:

  1. Regular Audits: We shall strive to conduct regular audits of our AI systems to ensure they meet regulatory standards and ethical guidelines. The results of these audits shall be made available to families, students, and schools upon request.
  2. Public Availability of Results: We are committed to making the results of these audits publicly available upon request, ensuring that users and stakeholders can access information about AI's impact on education.
  3. User Education: Before using any AI-powered tool, students, educators, and administrators are guided through a series of informational modules. These explain the AI system’s functionality, how their data is used, and their rights in relation to AI systems.
  4. Response to Audit Findings: Based on audit results, we commit to taking immediate corrective action to address any identified issues, ensuring the integrity and reliability of our AI systems.

Right to Be Forgotten

At EdQwest, we respect and comply with the right to be forgotten, ensuring that individuals maintain control over their personal data even after they leave the educational environment. This principle is central to our data privacy and protection practices and in alignment with relevant data protection laws.

Data Retention and Deletion

When a student, teacher, or any user leaves a school or discontinues their relationship with our platform, we follow these key practices:

  1. Request for Data Deletion: Any user, including students and educators, has the right to request the deletion of their personal data. Upon receiving such a request, we initiate the data deletion process promptly.
  2. Automatic Data Deletion Protocol: In cases where no explicit request is made, we will still ensure that any personal data associated with inactive accounts is securely deleted after a defined retention period, as outlined in our Privacy Policy. This period aligns with regulatory requirements and the educational institution’s data management policies.
  3. Notification to Schools: Schools are informed of the data deletion process and are provided with a timeline for when all user data will be removed from our systems.
  4. Partial Deletion or Data Anonymization: In cases where complete deletion may affect the integrity of ongoing operations (e.g., anonymized educational performance data used for broader learning analytics), we ensure that data is fully anonymized, ensuring no personally identifiable information remains.
  5. Audit Trail: We maintain a secure audit trail to document all data deletion activities. This ensures transparency in the deletion process and provides proof of compliance for stakeholders.
  6. Access to Deleted Data: Once data has been deleted or anonymized, it is no longer accessible to the user or any third party, in compliance with the GDPR and other data privacy standards.

Conclusion

EdQwest's AI policy is built on the foundation of compliance by design, transparency, and ethical use. By aligning with global standards and maintaining rigorous oversight of our AI systems, we are committed to providing a safe, transparent, and responsible AI-powered educational experience for all users.