PrAIa (Practical AI in Academia) is an informal, collaborative network, initiated by Leiden University researchers, teachers and tech-support from ISSC, LIACS and FSW, that are actively using and experimenting hands-on with state-of-the art AI applications and their technical and ethical underpinnings. Currently, our coalition is composed of passionate researchers, skilled technicians, and forward-thinking academic educators with an inclusive atitude, sharing practical experiences.

• Want to know more or join us? Email PrAIa for more information.

PrAia Leiden Mission Statement

2 May 2025

Who are we?

PrAIa (short for ‘Practical AI in Academia’) is a collaborative network, initiated in 2023 by Leiden University researchers, teachers and tech-support from ISSC, LIACS and FSW. Its members actively using and experimenting hands-on with state-of-the art AI applications and their technical and ethical underpinnings. Currently, our coalition is composed of passionate researchers, skilled technicians, and forward-thinking academic educators with an inclusive attitude, sharing practical experiences. PrAIa is currently hosted by the Faculty of Social Sciences.

What is our vision?

Current (hyper) fast developments in AI tend to outpace established scientific and educational practices in academia. In addition: academic governance processes and regulations inevitably lag with accelerated (AI) developments in societal and commercial domains. However: AI enhanced research and AI supported teaching are, throughout the world, rapidly surpassing longstanding academic methods in terms of efficacy and efficiency. We aim to assist colleagues to stay in touch with-, and bridge, the application-academia gap.

What do we aim at?

Our goal is to help find, explore and research practical Artificial Intelligence applications and solutions as they become available in the realm of academic teaching and learning, as well as scientific research, whilst promoting and safeguarding privacy and ethical standards related to AI use.  Our mission is to: 
•    advance practical and ethical integration of up-to-date AI tools into academic teaching and research 
•    initiate and help with setting up applied research on AI use in our university.
•    be available as a liaison between those practicing AI integration in their academic work and governance.  

PrAIa Leiden aims to be on the cusp of technological and application developments in AI, ensuring high standards of ethics whilst contributing to the progress and effectiveness of academic work. Our vision is to embed AI responsibly into the academic landscape, relieving workload burdens faced by teachers, researchers and students.

What do we do?

We learn and inspire by organizing events and meetings (such as AI seminars, hackathons and hands-on training events) for staff in our academic community.  Through organizing interdisciplinary meetings in design sessions, we bring together ICT specialists with stakeholders (in subsequent demo-sessions). Members of 
PrAIa act as experts in their respective fields and are able to provide guidance around AI tool use, potential and limitations. 

For whom?

We strive to be a go to for teachers, scientists, support staff and governance aspiring to be in touch with current practice developments in their fields with regard to Artificial Intelligence.
 
PrAIa aims to work closely together with other groups in our university: onboarding academics towards a future where AI is an intrinsic part of academic life. Examples of our explorations are hackathon meetings in which we explored AI-Consultation for students, and ways to assist teachers in designing and evaluating their courses. We realize that AI will radically change both research and teaching, not only by bringing gains in efficacy and efficiency, but also changing the way we do research itself, the way we teach and the way we learn. We want to make a point of bridging the divide between AI development in society and academia.

For more information: please contact us through praia@leidenuniv.nl.