An idea that began to take shape at UNICAMP in December 2025 has, in just a few months, evolved into a broad international research initiative focused on one of the most transformative and widely debated topics in Education: the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in teaching and learning.
The question that inspired this journey was both simple and remarkably complex:
How is Generative Artificial Intelligence impacting students' learning experiences around the world?
This question remains at the heart of the project. The initiative aims to gather the perspectives of university students and understand their perceptions and experiences regarding GenAI, thereby generating evidence that can contribute to a more conscious, critical and responsible application of these technologies in education.
A project that began to reach the world
One of the first major milestones occurred during the initial development of the proposal, when the project was selected for the 2026–2027 Naveen Jindal Young Global Research Fellowship (NJYGRF), awarded by O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) in India.
In June 2026, Dr. Danilo Rodrigues Pereira, a researcher at UNICAMP and the project's founder, travelled to India to participate in the Fellowship activities at O.P. Jindal Global University in Sonipat.
During his stay in India, Dr. Pereira presented and discussed the project with international researchers and collaborators. The experience raised a fundamental challenge: given that Generative Artificial Intelligence is a global phenomenon, how can we understand its educational impacts while considering such diverse cultural, linguistic and institutional contexts?
The birth of GLOBE-GenAI
Building on these discussions, new international connections and the expansion of the original proposal, GLOBE-GenAI – Global Learning Observatory on Generative Artificial Intelligence in Education was established.
The name reflects the principles that guide its work. Global represents transnational collaboration across countries and cultures; Learning highlights its focus on real educational processes and systems; Observatory reflects its commitment to systematic monitoring and evidence-based research; and Generative Artificial Intelligence in Education defines the network's primary field of scientific investigation.
More than a single research project, GLOBE-GenAI was conceived as a globally connected ecosystem for research and innovation in Generative Artificial Intelligence in Education.
Brazilian leadership and international collaboration
Based at UNICAMP, GLOBE-GenAI was structured from the outset as an international and collaborative scientific initiative. The Executive Scientific Committee is directed by Dr. Danilo Rodrigues Pereira, founder of GLOBE-GenAI, alongside co-founders Dr. Simone Appenzeller (UNICAMP, Brazil), Dr. Rahul Bhandari and Reet Mansharamani (JGU, India).
As the initiative expanded, researchers from different institutions and countries became part of a scientific structure organized around institutional communication, website and social media, digital governance and data management, research design and psychometric validation, global partnerships and expansion, as well as continental coordination.
Hundreds of institutions and thousands of students
By June 2026, the methodological design already envisioned an international, cross-cultural survey conducted through an online questionnaire with university students, with an estimated sample of more than 35,000 participants. Its broad geographical reach has become one of the project's defining features, with participation spanning South America, North America, Central America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania.
Knowledge to transform education
Expected outcomes include supporting more informed pedagogical practices, encouraging students to use Artificial Intelligence critically, contributing to discussions on intellectual autonomy and informing the development of evidence-based educational policies.
Since its conception, GLOBE-GenAI has also sought to create opportunities for collaboration beyond the data collection phase, encouraging co-authorship in international publications, participation in webinars and conferences, and contributions to global discussions on Artificial Intelligence in Education.
Together, we promote the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in Education.
From Brazil to India. From India to new connections. From an idea to a global network. The story of GLOBE-GenAI is just beginning.
