Since generative AI tools became available to the wider public, the higher education sector has been grappling with how to assimilate this disruptive technology into different aspects of academic life, including preparing graduates for a workplace where it is becoming widely used.
Generative AI analyses large quantities of data to produce human-like responses and is expected to revolutionise sectors such as healthcare, drug discovery and education. According to Coursera’s 2024 Global Skills Report, generative AI course enrolments surged by 1,060 per cent among its 148 million users.
“Generative AI will not take your job,” said Kristine Naltchadjian, regional director for southern Europe at Coursera, during a Times Higher Education virtual round table, held in partnership with Coursera. “It’s a person who knows how to use it well that will take your job,” she said.
The round-table discussion focused on embedding skills to create employable graduates and equal opportunities in EMEA as AI drives rapid changes in the job market. International collaboration is key to keeping up to date with AI trends, the participants agreed.
“The big help for us has been collaboration with colleagues who know more about it than we do,” said Nael Alami, vice-president of Modern University for Business and Science in Lebanon. For example, his institution has partnered with Stanford University and Emory University in the United States to embed AI in a specialised course for refugees, allowing learners to ask questions and explore course materials further. “That wouldn’t have been successful had it not been for collaboration with universities abroad,” he said.
Magda Magradze, CEO of the Millennium Foundation in Georgia, acknowledged the importance of global partnerships. “A lot of universities in our region need international partners to integrate AI into the curriculum,” she said. For example, one of the universities Magradze works with has partnerships with German institutions to create joint laboratories, international internships and collaborative thesis supervision.
AI and machine learning are developing so rapidly that faculty will need to continuously update their skills, said participants. “There isn’t going to be a faculty professional development that we can deliver and check it off,” said Jess Gilmore, head of education programmes business development at AWS. “AI is going to continue to evolve and we need to help faculty with this shift from being the expert in the room to being a guide alongside our students.”
Some educators are resistant to change or feel intimidated by new technology, participants said. Modern University for Business and Science has mandated free workshops for faculty, Alami said. “They have to attend at least four workshops throughout the year to be eligible for promotion or contract renewals,” he said. “This is an example of a challenge where you have to manage not just technology but also people.”
Find out more about the 2024 Global Skills Report by Coursera.
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