Responsible experimentation with AI starts with people, not with tools
On 1 June 2026, ROC Mondriaan and Koning Willem I College beautifully demonstrated during an Npuls webinar how vocational education institutions can responsibly explore and embed AI. What stands out is that both institutions start from different routes, but ultimately arrive at a similar approach.
At KW1C, the starting point lies mainly within education. At ROC Mondriaan, the movement comes more strongly from ICT. Nevertheless, both institutions opt for a network of AI experts, coaches or linking pins for each school, team or location. In other words, people who are close to practice, involve colleagues, gather questions and help to ensure that AI is not seen as a separate tool, but as part of professional practice.
That is precisely where things become both exciting and interesting.
Because responsible AI use does not simply arise by publishing a guideline or providing a safe environment. It requires ownership within teams. It needs colleagues who dare to experiment, but also know where the boundaries lie. It calls for space to discuss educational practice, privacy, ethics, assessment and didactics in a single conversation.
The examples from ROC Mondriaan and KW1C show that AI policy only comes to life when it is linked to professional development. Not just explanations about what generative AI is, but also concrete working methods, role descriptions, scenarios, ethical considerations and result-oriented assignments for both teaching and support departments.
This is an important lesson for vocational education. AI literacy is not a one-off workshop. It is an ongoing learning process within the organisation. With pioneers, clear frameworks and room to practise in one’s own context.
It is great to see that within Npuls, more and more examples are emerging in which safe, valuable and responsible AI use is not kept abstract, but is made practical. It is precisely this combination of policy, experimentation and human expertise that is needed to give AI a sustainable place in education.
Go to the website to find them all: https://community-data-ai.npuls.nl/ai-in-beleid-verantwoord-experimenteren-techniek