From left to right: UCM Professors Ángel González Prieto, Juan Antonio Recio García and Carlos Gregorio Rodríguez 

Click here to read this interview in Spanish 

Contributing to the Future of AI and Data Science through the Una Europa Alliance

Since its creation in 2019, Una Europa -of which UCM is a member alongside ten other European universities- has sought to explore and innovate in joint educational formats, devise new models of mobility, and establish pathways for transnational research. Multidisciplinarity is always at its core, but Una Europa has defined six scientific areas around which to structure its work. Given its undeniable social impact, artificial intelligence and data science was one of those selected.

Professors Ángel González Prieto (Department of Algebra, Geometry and Topology), Juan Antonio Recio García (Department of Software Engineering and Artificial Intelligence), and Carlos Gregorio Rodríguez (Department of Computer Systems and Computation) represent Complutense on Una Europa’s expert committee in this field, where they work closely with academics from across the alliance. One of this international group’s most ambitious projects is the design and launch, in the 2027–28 academic year, of the alliance’s first joint Master’s degree, focused specifically on Applied Data Science. We brought them together to discuss this programme and the other initiatives they are developing in the area of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, including a challenge-based summer course on AI and ethics to be held this July as part of UCM’s Summer Courses in El Escorial.

Text: Cristina Saura. Photography: Jesús de Miguel.

– Artificial intelligence is reaching every corner of our lives. What role are universities in general, and Una Europa universities in particular, playing in this major transformation?

- Carlos Gregorio: Often, when “revolutions” reach society, it is because they have been taking shape for years or even decades within universities, through research that may initially seem highly theoretical but can, in the right context and at the right moment, become a game changer. That is why basic research is so important: it is one of the pillars of the university.

- Juan Antonio Recio: The rapid pace of AI development is posing a challenge for universities, as it has dramatically increased demand for training. This is one of the reasons why, within the alliance, we have promoted the creation of the Master in Applied Data Science (MADS), led by UCM and Università di Bologna. It will be the first joint Master’s launched by Una Europa, starting in the 2027–28 academic year, and we are convinced it will become a benchmark in this field.

– Who makes up the Una Europa expert committee on AI and Data Science, and how is your collaboration organised?

- Ángel González: Each university appoints its representatives. Locally, we meet fortnightly, and we are in constant remote contact with our counterparts at other universities to coordinate and align our initiatives. We also meet in person at Una Europa General Assemblies, where we discuss priorities, define lines of work, and launch new proposals.

– One of Una Europa’s first initiatives was a MOOC, an online course (open and free to the entire alliance community) on Artificial Intelligence, which we previously covered in detail in Tribuna Complutense. Given the pace of change in this field, has it become outdated, or is it still worth recommending to students and staff?

- Juan Antonio Recio: Quite the opposite. The MOOC "AI in Society" features very high-quality content developed by different Una Europa partners, addressing increasingly relevant issues such as “AI and discrimination”, “AI and justice”, and “AI and healthcare”. We strongly encourage all UCM students and the wider university community to take it.

- Ángel González: The MOOC has been so successful that it has recently been incorporated into the curriculum of another key initiative, the Module Exchange. This project allows students across the alliance to benefit from the combined academic offer of all partner universities, regardless of where they are enrolled. Master’s students can take online modules at other institutions and receive academic recognition from their home university. This enriches their CV, broadens learning opportunities, fosters internationalisation, and builds collaborative networks. It is currently a pilot experience in our field, involving UCM, the University of Helsinki, the University of Zurich and the University of Bologna, but we expect it to expand to other areas and institutions in the coming years. At UCM, it is already running successfully within the Master’s in Mathematical Engineering and the Master’s in Internet of Things, and we expect to include the Master’s in Artificial Intelligence shortly. UCM students interested in the Module Exchange can check opportunities and updates on this webpage.

– Another of your flagship initiatives is the summer course on AI and creativity, now in its third edition. Looking ahead to the next one, could you tell us more about it?

- Carlos Gregorio: Each edition is hosted by a different university, which gives it its own perspective. This is one of the strengths of international collaboration within the alliance. We also explore new ways of funding such activities. The first edition coincided with the launch of Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programmes (BIP), which allow both staff and students to receive funding. We have been using this format ever since.

- Juan Antonio Recio: AI offers endless possibilities in the field of creativity: humanities, fine arts, literature, etcétera. We receive very diverse applications, from PhD candidates interested in applying AI in their research to students from faculties such as Information Sciences, Fine Arts or Education.

– You also organise the DSAI Challenge summer course at El Escorial, focusing on the complex relationship between ethics and AI.

- Juan Antonio Recio: This is one of the activities led by UCM within the alliance. After attending several masterclasses, students are asked to develop their own project addressing a practical AI application with ethical implications. They are supported by mentors from the European ALFIE project, which aims to develop bias-free AI tools. Thanks to sponsorship from Bosch and the Bosch-UCM Chair in Artificial Intelligence, selected participants receive a full grant covering accommodation and meals.

– Many people wonder whether they can simply ignore AI. What advice would you give to the general public or small business owners?

- Carlos Gregorio: As with many technologies, it is not essential to master every detail, but a certain level of literacy is important. The term “AI” is often overused, sometimes treated as if it were a single entity. Ideally, people should understand the differences between, for example, a large language model and a recommendation algorithm, or a chatbot and a specialised agent. It is also important to understand who develops these tools, where the training data comes from, and the ethical implications involved.

- Ángel González: AI is here to stay, and its impact will grow in the coming years. It presents challenges -bias, misinformation, discrimination- but also offers major scientific and social benefits. For example, tools like AlphaFold, capable of predicting protein folding with unprecedented accuracy, or modern language models that assist with routine tasks. It is essential for citizens and workers to understand both the potential and the risks of AI, and universities must provide that ongoing training.

Master in Applied Data Science (MADS): Una Europa’s First Joint Master’s Degree

– Why is Applied Data Science such an important specialisation?

- Carlos Gregorio (Academic Coordinator of MADS): Data is used across a wide range of disciplines. Working with it requires knowledge of statistics, visualisation, algorithms and systems, as well as domain expertise; understanding where data comes from, what it means, and what questions it can answer. Training these new professional profiles is essential. We defined this joint Master’s as a strategic priority in 2023, with UCM co-leading it alongside Università di Bologna. Our goal from the outset has been to establish it as an Erasmus Mundus Master’s, and we have already secured Erasmus Mundus Design Measures (EMDM) funding from the European Commission, an important first endorsement. As the name suggests, it will be highly applied. It will launch in 2027–28 with four specialisations: Health Data Science, Societal Data Science, Data Science for Cultural Heritage, and Data Science for Legal Professions.

– What makes MADS innovative?

- Carlos Gregorio: Its international dimension (involving seven universities, with four jointly awarding the degree) and its challenge-based, multidisciplinary methodology. Students will work on real-world problems in collaboration with external organisations. It aims to become a meeting point for students, academics, professionals and researchers, and a model for future international programmes. We also aim for it to be among the first degrees to receive the European Degree Label and the first Erasmus Mundus Master’s led by Complutense.

We are looking for students from diverse backgrounds -not only statistics, computing or mathematics, but also fields such as health, law, sociology, politics, history, tourism or communication-, provided they have some grounding in data and computation. Motivation will be key. Admissions are expected to open in early 2027. Mobility will be another defining feature: the first year at Universidad Complutense de Madrid, followed by study at partner institutions such as Università di Bologna, París 1 Pantheón- Sorbonne o Universiteit Leiden, depending on the specialisation. The Master’s thesis may be completed at any of the seven participating universities (in addition to those already mentioned, University College Dublin, Helsingin yliopisto and Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie).

– One final question for all three of you. What motivates you to dedicate so much time to Una Europa projects?

- Ángel González: We believe strongly in Una Europa’s potential to drive excellence in teaching and research. That is our main motivation. Each of us brings time, expertise, and contacts; we complement each other exceptionally well.

- Juan Antonio Recio: It also helps to align alliance initiatives with our existing academic and research work.In my case, I have tried to find synergies to promote alliance activities through the BOSCH-UCM Extraordinary Chair in AI, which I lead. Ultimately, what makes it work is a highly committed and well-coordinated team.

- Carlos Gregorio: It is a significant effort, but also an opportunity to rethink the role of the university, connecting it more closely with social needs and the research and industrial ecosystem. Despite underfunding and the short-sightedness of the Community of Madrid, I believe that the university as an institution—and the UCM in particular for Madrid—is a fundamental pillar in the development of an educated and fair society.