De Hague Applied AI Campus (HAAI): voor een weerbare en AI-vaardige Haagse regio

That is why THUAS, ROC Mondriaan, Leiden University, and Delft University of Technology are collaborating within the Hague Applied AI (HAAI) Campus to give a strong boost to digital and societal resilience and to exchange regional knowledge and skills on AI.

AI Labs

Peter Vroom, Director of the Faculty of IT & Design at The Hague University of Applied Sciences, and project leader Esther van Vondel explain the plans, goals, and urgency of the HAAI Campus.  

“We were the first university of applied sciences in the Netherlands to launch a programme in Applied Data Science and AI four years ago”, says Peter. “We already had a research group in this field with a UNESCO AI Chair and had increasingly collaborated with other educational institutions in recent years. Our expertise and that of our partner institutions aligned well with the ambitions of the Municipality of The Hague. They view AI as an important theme with societal impact on the city as well as their own organisation.”

This led to the development of the HAAI Campus, where the partners aim to begin offering lifelong learning programmes and AI labs. “This ties in with the existing SME Labs in the region that focus on digitalising business operations. These are our first steps in the HAAI collaboration, and over the coming months we will expand with several pilots.”

Close collaboration with the business community

Esther acknowledges that working with and learning about AI is a process of discovery. “AI is coming at us fast, and everyone is confronted with it, even if its full impact is not yet clear. That is why companies, governments, and educational institutions all need to get involved, so we can collectively understand AI’s impact and how to work with it responsibly.”

SMEs are now joining in, and collaboration with employers is expanding through pilot projects. “We are in close contact with the Municipality of The Hague and with employers represented within the Economic Board The Hague and The Hague Tech. We have also been in discussions for some time with the Human Capital Agenda of the Economic Board Zuid-Holland.”

Not the master, but the servant

AI is here to stay, and therefore the HAAI Campus operates with the guiding principle: AI for good. “In other words, how do you manage the technology, oversee its effects, and ensure proper application?” Peter explains. “Teaching people the technical skills is not the hardest part, what really matters is the ethical component. And also the translation of specific challenges within organisations into concrete AI applications. How do you ensure that AI aligns with a company’s goals?”

This is why a new Master’s programme, ‘AI Translator’, will start this September at THUAS. It focuses on ensuring that AI technology is used in a supportive and service‑oriented way. “We want AI to be used effectively and responsibly, so that it remains a servant, not the master.”

Leading the way

For anyone who still feels that AI is something distant, Esther emphasises that everyone, at all levels, is involved in this development. “It is important to explore together what impact AI will have on society and on future generations. Our education and our students are essential for developing and applying increasingly advanced AI knowledge.”

Peter adds that even the HAAI Campus does not claim to have all the answers. “In fact, no one does. But with HAAI, we aim to be a leading knowledge hub and to play a full role in these developments. We hope to collaborate with as many partners as possible and warmly invite everyone to join us.”

Techfest

Want to learn more about HAAI and how we ensure that education and the labour market keep pace in the age of AI? Join us at Techfest on 29 January, where Peter will be participating in the carousel debate.