The minds of a new generation. The attitude of students and graduates from the CEE region towards AI
Context
Today’s students and graduates face a significant challenge: they are entering a world that will be completely transformed in just a few years due to artificial intelligence. Their leisure activities will change, their study habits will evolve, and the job market will look entirely different. New professions will emerge that we cannot even imagine today, while long-standing positions may disappear. As a result, new competencies will be necessary altogether.
Higher education, tasked with preparing individuals for their careers, finds itself in a pivotal yet complex situation. It must adapt to effectively teach and explain AI, equipping students with the skills they need for the future.
The survey aims to understand how young adults navigate the current uncertainty and whether they are receiving the support they need. It will also provide software companies with guidance on designing AI tools, focusing their efforts, and effectively engaging with young people.
Who are we investigating?
This research focuses on recent graduates (as young people starting their careers) and their utilization of AI
in the job market. By examining individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, the study aims to understand how AI knowledge influences career entry and trajectory.
It will investigate how background factors impact access to and use of AI, and which varying perspectives on AI’s value lead to different career choices. Additionally, this research seeks to verify and expand upon findings from previous studies, offering a comprehensive understanding of AI’s role in shaping early careers.
Purposes of the study
The research aims to understand the perspective of the research group to inform effective AI strategies and policies specific to select countries in CEE (Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia).
General objective of the study:
Objective 1: The objective is to investigate the habits and practices of final-year students and graduates up to two years after graduation regarding their use of publicly available AI tools. This study will particularly emphasize how these tools influence their entry into the rapidly changing job market.
Cognitive-specific objectives of the study:
Objective 2: Identify individual and social determinants of AI tool use among respondents for private, educational, as well as professional purposes
Objective 3: Assess the effects of familiarity and popularity of AI tools among respondents (Perceived crucial skills for success in the AI age (specific to recent graduates); preparedness for AI challenges; impact of media-driven PR on AI tool adoption; common obstacles hindering AI engagement.)
Objective 4: Examine the effect of using AI tools on the acquisition of jobs by respondents (Correlation between AI knowledge and labor market attractiveness, productivity metrics before and after AI implementation in sectors relevant to graduates)
Practical-specific objective of the study:
Objective 5: Creating solutions to enhance support programs for individuals who, for various reasons, do not utilize the available AI tools, thereby reducing their opportunities for securing suitable employment. (Write actionable recommendations for policymakers based on received data to prepare tailored-made training programs for graduates entering AI-influenced fields; policy interventions to bridge the gap between graduate skills and industry needs.)
The report
The report, summarizing all the gathered data, will be released in May 2025.
If you represent any of the researched countries (Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, or Romania) and would like to support us with your knowledge, research, or network, please do not hesitate to contact us at: paulina@aicee.tech.
We cooperate with experts from different fields to make our reports even more complex and trustworthy.