On 27 November 2025, an online seminar titled “Fostering Digital Ethics in Higher Education: Ethical Technologies, Responsibility, and Rights in the Digital Age” was successfully held by the National Erasmus+ Office in Kyrgyzstan. The event brought together a broad community of higher education leaders, digital policy experts, IT specialists, legal advisors, and civil society representatives to discuss one of the most pressing issues of modern education — ethical and responsible use of digital technologies.
The seminar opened with welcoming remarks delivered by representatives of the National Erasmus+ Office in Kyrgyzstan and President of Salymbekov University.
The first session was dedicated to general ethics, academic integrity, and plagiarism in the digital environment. Participants explored the concept of digital ethics within academic, social, and legal frameworks and discussed the importance of AI literacy and digital citizenship as key competencies for both students and educators. European perspectives on digital governance were also presented, providing valuable comparative insights.
The second session focused on artificial intelligence in education, specifically learning analytics, data privacy, and data surveillance. The discussions highlighted the opportunities and risks associated with data-driven educational technologies, as well as the need for strong institutional governance and data protection mechanisms.
Both thematic sessions were conducted by an EU expert, Associate Professor at the University of Bergen, Norway.
Following a short break, participants took part in an interactive workshop in breakout groups, where they worked on practical cases, exchanged institutional experiences, and proposed solutions to real-life ethical challenges linked to digital transformation.
The final thematic session addressed practical tools and policy instruments for implementing digital ethics in higher education. Special attention was given to the role of digital literacy as the foundation of ethical digital behavior in schools and universities, presented by the President of Salymbekov University, as well as to national approaches to cybersecurity, digital regulation, and electronic signature systems, delivered by the Head of the Department for Cybersecurity and Electronic Signature of the Ministry responsible for digital development and innovative technologies of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The seminar concluded with a final discussion that summarized key takeaways and emphasized the shared responsibility of higher education institutions in promoting ethical, transparent, and rights-based digital environments.
By the end of the seminar, participants:
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Gained an understanding of the core principles of digital ethics
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Learned to identify institutional gaps in digital responsibility and rights protection
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Received insights into policies, tools, and best practices for ethical digital engagement
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Strengthened their readiness to implement ethical guidelines within their institutions
The seminar contributed to strengthening institutional awareness and capacity for ethical digital transformation in the higher education sector of Kyrgyzstan.
Agenda: TAM_Agenda_digital_ethics
