HESA’s AI Observatory: What’s new in higher education (January 17, 2025)

HESA's AI Observatory: What's new in higher education (December 1, 2024)
Transformation of education

The McDonaldisation of higher education in the age of AI

Yoonil Auh, J. University World News. December 11th, 2024.

Reflection on how AI’s impact on higher education aligns with the principles of McDonaldisation (efficiency, calculability, predictability and control), what opportunities and challenges it creates, and how institutions are responding

Decolonization

AI and digital neocolonialism: Unintended impacts on universities

Yoonil Auh, J. University World News. July 12th, 2024. 

The evolution of AI risks reinforcing neocolonial patterns, underscoring the complex ethical implications associated with their deployment and broader impact

Workforce preparation

As workers seek guidance on AI use, employers value skilled graduates

Ascione, L. eCampusNews. December 9th, 2024.

A new Wiley survey highlights that 40% of respondents struggle to understand how to integrate AI into their work and 75% lack confidence in AI use, while 34% of managers feel equipped to support AI integration

California students want careers in AI. Here’s how colleges are meeting that demand

Brumer, D. and Garza, J. Cal Matters. October 20th, 2024. 

California’s governor announced the first statewide partnership with a tech firm, Nvidia, to bring AI curriculum, resources and opportunities to California’s public higher education institutions. The partnership will bring AI tools to community colleges first.

Let’s equip the next generation of business leaders with an ethical compass

Côrte-Real, A. Times Higher Education. October 22nd, 2024. 

In a world driven by AI, focusing on human connections and understanding is essential for achieving success. While AI can standardize many processes, it is the unique human skills – such as empathy, creativity, and critical thinking – that will continue to set individuals and organizations apart.

How employer demand trends across two countries demonstrate need for AI skills

Stevens, K. EAB. October 10th, 2024. 

Study reviewing employer demands in the US and in Ireland to better understand how demand for AI skills differ across countries, and examine if these differences are significant enough to require targeted curricular design by country

Research

We’re living in a world of artificial intelligence – it’s academic publishing that needs to change

Moorhouse, B. Times Higher Education. December 13th, 2024.

Suggestions to shift mindsets towards GenAI tools to restore trust in academic publishing

Teaching and learning

The AI-Generated Textbook That’s Making Academics Nervous

Palmer, K. Inside Higher Ed. December 13th, 2024. 

A comparative literature professor at UCLA used AI to generate the textbook for her medieval literature course notably with the aim to make course material more financially accessible to her students – but the academic community reacted strongly

GenAI impedes student learning, hitting exam performance

Sawahel, W. University World News. December 12th, 2024.

A study conducted in Germany using GenAI detection systems showed that students who used GenAI scored significantly lower in essays

The renaissance of the essay starts here

Gordon, C. and Compton, M. Times Higher Education. December 9th, 2024. 

A group of academics from King’s College London, the London School of Economics and Political Science, the University of Sydney and Richmond American University came together to draft a manifesto on the future of the essay in the age of AI, where they highlight problems and opportunities related to the use of essays, and propose ways to rejuvenate its use

These AI tools can help prepare future programmers for the workplace

Rao, R. Times Higher Education. December 9th, 2024.

Reflection on how curricula should incorporate the use of AI tools, with a specific focus on programming courses

The future is hybrid: Colleges begin to reimagine learning in an AI world

McMurtrie, B. The Chronicle of Higher Education. October 3rd, 2024.

Reflection on the state of AI integration in teaching and learning across the US

Academic integrity

Survey suggests students do not see use of AI as cheating

Qiriazi, V. et al. University World News. December 11th, 2024. 

Overview of topics discussed at the recent plenary of the Council of Europe Platform on Ethics, Transparency and Integrity in Education

Focusing on GenAI detection is a no-win approach for instructors

Berdahl, L. University Affairs. December 11th, 2024

Reflection on potential equity, ethical, and workload implications of AI detection 

The Goldilocks effect: finding ‘just right’ in the AI era

MacCallum, K. Times Higher Education. October 28th, 2024. 

Discussion on when AI use is ‘too much’ versus when it is ‘just right’, and how instructors can allow students to use GenAI tools while still maintaining ownership of their work

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