AI and the university

Artificial intelligence is already impacting all areas of higher education. Here, academics from around the world look at AI’s benefits and its costs

AI and the university

From machine learning to chatbots, artificial intelligence is already impacting higher education, and signs are that the influence of evolving technologies on university life is just getting started. With the benefits to assessment, admissions, student retention and research efficiency come questions about the environmental cost of processing vast amounts of data and turning over human tasks, such as writing, to machines. This collection of resources from around the world looks at AI now and what the future might bring.

AI in higher education: dystopia, utopia or something in between?

To understand how HE can incorporate AI successfully, we need to think about how humans will interact with the technology and change their behaviour, says Ben Swift

Ben Swift

Australian National University

The future of AI in HE

AI concept

What’s next for AI in higher education?

From assessment to ethics and job security, a new Jisc report highlights AI’s challenges and successes and provides insight into upcoming developments

Michael Webb

Jisc

A robot marks a book. Aritificial intelligence has been trumpeted as our saviour, but the truth is much more complicated.

AI has been trumpeted as our saviour, but it’s complicated

Time saved by lecturers on marking assignments could indeed be used to enrich teaching, but unfortunately many silver linings have a cloud, says Harin Sellahewa

Harin Sellahewa

University of Buckingham

Extended reality and the metaverse must become a research priority for universities

The metaverse will change everything – including academic research

We must push XR research boundaries if we’re to understand and shape our future reality – here’s how, says Neil McDonnell

Neil McDonnell

University of Glasgow

concept illustration of green research woman planet

Go green, AI!

Can artificial intelligence be as green as it is integral to solving complex problems? As universities integrate courses on AI into different fields, they also need to show students its risks and costs, particularly for the environment

Inès Chihi, Inma Peral

University of Luxembourg

Effective use of machine learning to empower your research

Artificial intelligence, or machine learning, can support complex analysis and advance quality research, but only when used carefully. John F. Wu shares advice on how machine learning can empower researchers

John F. Wu

Space Telescope Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University

AI and language

AI writing

Eight ways to engage with AI writers in higher education

Just as spelling checks and predictive text have become accepted, so too will AI writers, so educators should help students responsibly engage with and understand the potential and limitations of these text generators, writes Lucinda McKnight

Lucinda McKnight

Deakin University

Robot writing

Original essays written in seconds: how ‘transformers’ will change assessment

Artificial intelligence that generates original text will be both empowering and disruptive for students and higher education at large, say Mike Sharples and Rafael Pérez y Pérez

Mike Sharples , Rafael Pérez y Pérez

The Open University, Metropolitan Autonomous University

Questions for educators to ask about students use of machine translation

Machine translation: the questions educators need to ask

Language translation software is an increasingly powerful and widely used tool, but how is it used by students learning in a second language, and what challenges does this present to their teachers? Andy McIntosh highlights some practical and ethical considerations

Andy McIntosh

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

hands touching illustrating virtual reality

What can human behaviour analytics tell us about student learning?

Human behaviour analytics could be the answer to enhanced student engagement and better learning experiences in computer-aided learning environments

Fang Chen, Kun Yu

University of Technology Sydney

The potential of artificial intelligence in assessment feedback

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to improve the way students receive assessment feedback. Elizabeth Ellis explores some of the ways in which AI can help students

Elizabeth Ellis

Arden University

Tips for responsible data use

Guidance on responsible collection and use of student data to enhance online teaching

Secure and transparent use of student data

Bronwen Swinnerton and James Pickering outline the steps all universities should take to ensure ethical and transparent collection and use of student data via ed-tech platforms

Bronwen Swinnerton, James Pickering

University of Leeds

Advice on the guidance available to frame responsible use of learner analytics to improve students' university experience

Responsible use of learning analytics to improve the university experience

Rebecca Ferguson presents useful guidelines and frameworks for using learner analytics safely and effectively to inform improvements to teaching and student services

Rebecca Ferguson

The Open University

Careers chatbot

Six tips for implementing a careers chatbot ethically and effectively

Helping students make good academic choices fuelled by their career aspirations before they start studying is crucial – and a well-designed chatbot can be very useful

Caroline Tolond, Deirdre Hughes, Chris Percy

Arden University, CiCi

Merging library and IT services can bring great benefits to university life

Meeting student needs in the MENA region through digital transformation

Barbar Akle, Rula Diab and George Nasr describe ways universities in the Middle East and North Africa can meet the needs of their students by embracing digital transformation and internationalisation

Barbar Akle, Rula Diab, George Nasr

Lebanese American University

Rethinking higher education in Asia post-pandemic: five key trends

Allan Yuen Hoi-kau highlights five trends to look out for as higher education in Asia evolves post-pandemic, and shares tips on striking a balance between technology and learning objectives

Allan Yuen Hoi-kau

Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education

Lessons from past experience

A robot holding tools to illustrate a resource offering advice for universities on using 'bots'

Lessons for universities from using ‘bots’ in the NHS

Advice on how higher education institutions could apply Robotic Process Automation to improve efficiencies, based on lessons from its use in the NHS

Carol Glover

KFM, a subsidiary of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

University tutor marking assessments

How to turn a PhD project into a commercial venture

Transforming a doctoral research project into a commercially viable product requires astute decision-making from the start. Manjinder Kainth and Nicola Wilkin share a beginner’s guide

Manjinder Kainth, Nicola Wilkin

Graide, University of Birmingham

Virtual reality has failed higher education

Virtual reality has failed education, so what should we do with it?

Getting VR right at a sophisticated level requires a hefty mix of hardware, pricey developers, rock-solid internet and suitable pedagogy – but there is a way forward

Malcolm Burt

Central Queensland University