As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform the workforce, there is growing urgency for educational institutions to prepare students not only to use AI tools but to engage with them critically and ethically. However, most current approaches treat students as passive recipients of technological knowledge rather than as collaborators in shaping how AI is integrated into their learning and future professions. Participatory pedagogy—an approach that includes students and other stakeholders in the co-design of curricula, assignments, and policies—offers a promising framework to close this gap. By incorporating ethical considerations and real-world applications into the co-creation of AI-related learning experiences, educators can better align academic training with evolving professional expectations. This Research Topic invites interdisciplinary contributions that explore how participatory models of teaching can inform the ethical and effective use of AI in professional practice, equipping students to become both competent users and responsible stewards of emerging technologies.

The rapid integration of AI into diverse professional sectors has outpaced the evolution of educational frameworks needed to support students in ethically and effectively navigating this shift. Despite increased attention to AI in higher education, many curricula remain either overly technical or disconnected from the ethical, social, and practical dimensions of AI use in real-world contexts. Moreover, students are rarely engaged in the design of these learning experiences, limiting the relevance and impact of educational interventions. This Research Topic seeks to address the disconnect between AI advancements and educational readiness by promoting participatory pedagogy as a transformative approach. The goal is to explore how involving students, educators, and industry stakeholders in the co-design of AI-integrated curricula can foster deeper understanding, ethical awareness, and professional preparedness. Recent advances in AI policy development, educational technology, and co-creation methodologies provide fertile ground for innovation. Contributions may include empirical research, case studies, conceptual frameworks, or practical guidelines that advance inclusive, interdisciplinary, and participatory strategies for preparing students to use AI responsibly and effectively in their future professional roles.

This Research Topic invites contributions that examine the intersection of participatory pedagogy, ethical AI integration, and professional readiness. We welcome interdisciplinary work that critically explores how students and other stakeholders can be actively involved in designing curricula, tools, and policies that support the responsible use of AI in professional practice. Specific themes of interest include (but are not limited to):

• Co-designed AI curriculum models.
• Case studies of participatory course development.
• Ethical frameworks for AI education.
• Institutional policies guiding AI use in academic and workplace settings.
• Strategies to prepare students for AI-enhanced careers across disciplines.

We encourage submissions of original research, conceptual and theoretical papers, methodological innovations, perspective pieces, and practice-based case studies. Manuscripts should demonstrate relevance to professional education and contribute to ongoing conversations around equity, agency, and innovation in the age of AI. Authors are especially encouraged to include the voices of students or practitioners in their work.

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From Consumers to Co-Designers: Participatory Pedagogy for Ethical AI Integration in Professional Practice

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