UKIM Institute Explores AI as a Tool for Gender Equality Research
By Guest Contributor ·
Artificial intelligence is increasingly moving beyond computer science and engineering, entering fields such as education, public policy, social sciences, and academic research. In North Macedonia, one example of this shift is emerging at the Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje, where the Institute for Gender Studies at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University is using AI to support gender equality research and learning. The initiative, titled “Using Artificial Intelligence to Advance Gender Equality in Academic Research,” is connected to UKIM’s Declaration and Action Plan for Gender Equality 2022–2025. Rather than treating artificial intelligence only as a technical tool, the project explores how AI-supported platforms and learning assistants can help transfer knowledge, organize resources, and support online training on gender-related issues in scientific research. AI tools and responsible academic useAccording to the submitted materials, the Institute has developed and maintained an online platform that includes project sites, educational resources, bots, and training activities. The goal is to make knowledge on gender equality in academic research more accessible to students, researchers, and academic staff. The project raises an important question for universities in the region: how can AI be used responsibly to support research fields that depend on interpretation, context, and critical thinking? In this case, AI is not presented as a replacement for researchers or educators. Instead, it is used as infrastructure — a way to organize knowledge, support learning, and provide easier access to relevant information. This reflects a broader trend in higher education, where universities are beginning to experiment with AI as part of academic services, research support, and digital learning environments. At the same time, the use of AI in academic settings also brings clear challenges. Issues such as bias, transparency, privacy, accuracy, and human oversight remain especially important when dealing with social research and sensitive topics such as gender equality. For this reason, projects of this kind need not only technical development, but also strong ethical and academic guidance. Regional relevance and responsible university AIFor the Balkans, the relevance goes beyond one institution. It shows how universities in the region can begin building practical AI use cases in disciplines that are often excluded from technology debates. While much of the AI conversation focuses on startups, automation, and business productivity, initiatives like this point to another direction: AI as a support system for research, education, and social impact. As artificial intelligence becomes part of university infrastructure, the key question will not only be whether institutions adopt AI, but how they do it. The experience of the Institute for Gender Studies suggests that AI can also be used to strengthen academic work in the humanities and social sciences — if implemented carefully, transparently, and with clear educational purpose. Guest Contributor: Bobi BadarevskiInstitute for Gender Studies, Faculty of Philosophy – UKIM