EPILAB

EPILAB: Epistemic & Civic Resilience Labs in AI-mediated Universities

General Information

• Participating Countries: Italy, Poland, Estonia, Greece, the Netherlands, France
• Duration: 01/09/2026 – 28/02/2029
• Project Reference: 2026-1-IT02-KA220-HED-000461650
• Key Action: Cooperation partnerships in higher education

Summary

EPILAB helps higher education institutions strengthen students’ ability to critically evaluate information in learning environments shaped by artificial intelligence. The project will develop a practical assessment tool and classroom-based Epistemic Labs that help students assess evidence, judge the credibility of sources, recognise manipulation, manage uncertainty, and engage constructively with different viewpoints. The project combines research, practical teaching methods, facilitator training, and institutional integration across six European countries.
 

Objectives

The main aim of EPILAB – Epistemic & Civic Resilience Labs in AI-mediated Universities is to:
• Develop ETM-lite, a concise 12-item tool for assessing students’ epistemic resilience in AI-mediated learning environments.
• Create structured Epistemic Lab scenarios that help students evaluate AI-generated content, evidence, sources, bias, and contested information.
• Train academic staff to confidently facilitate the Labs and support further training within their institutions.
• Validate the methodology across different European languages and higher education contexts.
• Support the formal integration of the EPILAB methodology into higher education programmes and staff development systems.
 

Implementation

EPILAB will develop and validate ETM-lite, a 12-item tool for assessing students’ ability to critically evaluate AI-mediated information. The project will also create 12 Epistemic Lab scenarios on topics such as misinformation, deepfakes, source credibility, uncertainty, and bias.

The methodology will be tested with students across six countries and improved using assessment data and participant feedback. In parallel, 48 facilitators will be trained to deliver the Labs and support further staff development. The project will also promote institutional adoption through integration guidance, multiplier events, policy briefs, and the open-access EPILAB Hub.
 

Results

The main results of EPILAB will include:
• ETM-lite Kit: A validated 12-item assessment tool with automated scoring and guidance in six languages.
• Epistemic Lab Kit: Twelve classroom scenarios with facilitator scripts, participant materials, and assessment resources.
• Training Toolkit: Practical training materials for facilitators, including a handbook, demonstration videos, and quick-reference resources.
• Trained Facilitator Network: A network of 48 facilitators, including selected trainers who can support wider institutional use.
• Validation and Integration Resources: Evidence from student testing, together with guidance for adopting and adapting the methodology in higher education.
• EPILAB Hub: An open-access, multilingual platform providing the project’s tools, training materials, and implementation guidance.
 

Impact and Long-term Benefits

EPILAB aims to create a lasting impact by strengthening students’ ability to critically evaluate AI-generated and digitally mediated information, including evidence, sources, uncertainty, and different viewpoints. It will provide academic staff with practical teaching and assessment resources, build long-term facilitator capacity through training and peer support, and promote the adoption of the methodology by at least 10 higher education institutions. By making its main outputs openly available, the project will also contribute to European discussions on artificial intelligence, digital resilience, quality education, and civic participation.

Would you like to collaborate, or do you have any questions?

Contact our Research Centre by sending an email to researchcentre@wittenborg.eu

Disclaimer
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.