Exploring the Dutch national algorithm register for education – results, insights and recommendations
Algorithms and AI are playing an increasingly significant role in education. But how do we ensure transparency and control over their use? This final report presents the results of the project ‘Exploration and design of an algorithm register for education’. In addition to valuable insights and recommendations, it offers a practical tool: an Excel spreadsheet that educational institutions can use to inventory their algorithms and raise awareness.
Wat?
This final report shares the insights and lessons from the project ‘Exploring the Dutch national algorithm register for education’. The aim was to support educational institutions in making algorithms transparent and managing them. To this end, a practical tool has been developed: an Excel spreadsheet to inventory algorithms and raise awareness.
Voor wie?
This report is intended for policymakers, privacy officers and education professionals.
Samenvatting
Algorithms and AI are increasingly being used in education. But what exactly are the objectives, impact and risks of this? What should students know about this? Is it permitted by law? The growing need to better understand these algorithms and make them transparent prompted the ‘Exploring and designing an algorithm register for education’ project. In this project, Npuls explored the potential role of an algorithm register in tertiary education in the Netherlands. A working group set to work with input from institutions of tertiary education in the Netherlands and local authorities that already use an algorithm register.
The working group established four objectives for an algorithm register for education:
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Getting an overview of the algorithms used in your institution: what exactly are we doing with algorithms in our organisation?
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Learning from each other as educational institutions about the use of algorithms and risk management: how do you approach this?
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Ensuring societal transparency, particularly for students, regarding which algorithms are used and how: how does my institution use my data in algorithms, and how do they arrive at statements and conclusions about me? Other target groups (researchers, journalists, and so on) can also benefit from this transparency.
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Complying with transparency legislation and regulations: are we using algorithms carefully and in accordance with the law.
In the coming period, educational institutions in the Netherlands will need to continue working on internal processes and governance. Npuls can share best practices that will help us move forward together. In the meantime, institutions and Npuls can work together to develop a risk assessment framework, for exampl