In June 2024, the University of Twente hosted the kickoff of the AI@Work Learning Community: a diverse and dynamic network of professionals and researchers committed to exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) is shaping – and can help improve – the future of work. What started as an energetic first meeting has since evolved into a collaborative platform that brings together people, ideas, and experimentation across sectors and disciplines.
A space to share, connect and collaborate
The community now includes around 40 participants from sectors such as healthcare, education and public services. From data analysts and HR directors to academic researchers and policy advisors, they share a common curiosity: how can AI contribute to better, more sustainable and more human work?
Each of the four community meetings focused on a specific theme – from AI in HR and ethical questions to the practical use of generative models. Organisations openly shared their experiences with AI, from chatbots to assistants, and engaged in meaningful conversations about opportunities and challenges.
"I really appreciated the openness of these sessions," says Pauline Weritz, assistant professor and co-initiator. "Participants shared ideas and developed them further – sometimes without us even being directly involved. That shows how much ownership the community has developed."
Learning by doing
What sets AI@Work apart is that it’s not just about sharing knowledge – it’s about doing things together. The community encourages experimentation, and participants took the lead in smaller project teams, often working across organisational boundaries. Projects included an HR chatbot, an AI document search tool, and a predictive model to address staff attrition in healthcare.
"As a researcher, it’s incredibly valuable to work on real-world challenges," says Maarten Renkema, assistant professor and co-initiator. “For example, the issue of staff shortages in healthcare. And I’ve learned how hard it is for organisations to gather the right data for AI models – something you don’t learn from books.”
A network that keeps growing
Over the course of the year, the network continued to grow. New PhD candidates joined, and at the most recent meeting, practice partners from Germany took part. The topics also expanded – from strategic questions to practical tools such as writing prompts and setting up AI pilots.
"By facilitating these connections, participants are not only learning – they are also initiating new projects together," Renkema adds.
Looking ahead
One year in, it’s clear that AI@Work has created something new: an open and safe space for exploration, innovation and shared learning. What started with a World Café in Enschede has become a living network connecting organisations, roles and perspectives.
The next phase will focus on deepening the work: more thematic projects, new participants, and stronger links between practice and research. Because the future of work is not something we predict—it’s something we create together.
More information
Interested in joining the AI@Work Learning Community? Please contact Maarten Renkema or Pauline Weritz for more information.
