To help Latvian teachers use their time more efficiently and receive meaningful support from artificial intelligence (AI) tools in their daily work, Riga Technical University (RTU) has launched a new national research programme project titled "Artificial Intelligence Tools in the Work of General Education Teachers" (AItools4Teachers).
The project will explore how artificial intelligence can be integrated into the professional activities of general education teachers in Latvia, with a particular focus on tasks outside classroom hours - such as lesson planning, student assessment, development of teaching materials, and communication with parents. Its main objective is to assess the effectiveness of AI technologies in teachers’ work, analyse international experience in AI implementation in education, and develop evidence-based recommendations for introducing AI tools into Latvia’s general education system.
To better understand how AI impacts teachers’ workload, time management, and technological stress, the project will include surveys, interviews, and focus groups with teachers and other education sector representatives. Additional research will address technical, legal, and environmental considerations, as well as the current and potential connections between national education data sets and AI platforms.
"Through this project, RTU demonstrates that its technological and artificial intelligence expertise can directly contribute to improving educational content and processes. Our mission extends beyond generating new knowledge - we aim to help schools and teachers apply it in practice, thereby strengthening the sustainability and competitiveness of Latvia’s education system. Artificial intelligence tools can significantly assist teachers in their daily tasks, allowing them to devote more time to creative and pedagogical aspects, while technology supports routine processes," explains Arturs Zeps, RTU Vice-Rector for Development and Finance, emphasising the project’s importance.
The initiative is being implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science, the State Education Development Agency, the Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Employees, general education institutions, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) initiative "MIT RAISE7", and Latvian technology companies. This collaboration ensures that the project outcomes are feasible, practical, and inclusive.
The project "Artificial Intelligence Tools for Teachers in General Education" (AItools4Teachers) (Project No. VPP-IZGLITIBA-2025/1-0010) will continue until the end of 2026. It is funded with EUR 445,785 from the Ministry of Education and Science’s state budget programme 05.12.00 «Science», under the subprogramme "State Research Programmes".
