Flanders operates the most structured subnational AI education and training ecosystem identified in Belgium. The 2024-2028 Flemish AI Policy Plan allocates an annual budget of EUR 32 million across three pillars: top-level research via VAIOP (EUR 12 million), AI adoption support for companies (EUR 15 million), and flanking measures including ethics, skills, and public awareness (EUR 5 million).
The Vlaamse AI Academie (VAIA) is a collaboration between all Flemish universities and universities of applied sciences and arts, along with industry bodies Agoria, Voka, and UNIZO. VAIA provides a broad catalogue of AI courses for professionals at all levels, covering prompt engineering, machine learning, data visualisation, and generative AI. Digital skills were integrated by law into all initial teacher education from the 2023-2024 academic year.
The Kenniscentrum Data & Maatschappij coordinates ethical and societal aspects of AI adoption.
Who it affects: Professionals across Flanders seeking AI upskilling; pre-service teachers who now receive mandatory digital skills training; companies receiving AI adoption support.
What is notably missing: No binding AI curriculum mandate for K-12 schools beyond general digital skills in teacher education. The EUR 15 million for company AI adoption is support, not a legal employer training obligation. No civil servant AI training mandate has been identified at the Flemish level.