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Supporting AI in Higher Education for a Global Workforce

Sat, March 22, 2:45 to 4:00pm, Palmer House, Floor: 3rd Floor, Salon 4

Group Submission Type: Formal Panel Session

Proposal

Background and rationale

Generative AI (G-AI) is touted for its transformational impact on higher education. Yet, thus far little research has examined the broader social impact of its use in higher education, particularly as it relates to equity as shaped by institutional purpose and ways of working, and the role it plays in supporting higher education to prepare the future workforce for successful careers in an AI-powered global economy. This research aims to provide comprehensive insights into the intersection of AI and higher education and to investigate further pressing issues and questions at the levels of education, workforce development, and AI technology by exploring the role of higher education providers in supporting governments and industries in creating jobs amidst AI disruption.

Following panel discussions and policy roundtables during the 11th World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) held in Doha, Qatar in 2023, the Institute of International Education (IIE) and WISE, an initiative of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, engaged in a research collaboration and formed a consortium on AI, Higher Education, and the Workforce to leverage new research on the intersection of AI, higher education, and workforce development and inform policy and effective practices in the global higher education community. This consortium includes the following six research partners who conducted individual case studies as part of this research effort:

• University of Pennsylvania (United States)
• Ashesi University (Ghana)
• Nazarbayev University (Kazakhstan)
• BITS Pilani (India)
• Universidad de los Andes (Colombia)
• University Camilo José Cela (Spain)


Research questions

The partners collected data in their respective institutions to answer the following research questions:
• How is AI being integrated into curricula across higher education institutions? How is it being implemented into teaching and learning practices?
• How are higher education institutions working with local industries to understand the current and future needs of the labor force? How can higher education support and grow student skills for the AI-enabled workforce?
• What advances are higher education institutions putting in place to prepare students for the needs of the global workforce? What skills are most important for workforce readiness in an AI context?
• How are higher education institutions working with faculty and leadership to upskill and reskill, given the role of AI in higher education?
• How are institutions approaching AI data security?

Research methods

This exploratory research adopts a comparative case study approach of universities in multiple geographies and contexts to better understand their theories-in-use related to G-AI in the classroom.
Vertical case studies reconceptualized culture, context, scale, and comparison, and explored the interrelationships between key players in each of these stories. This approach allowed for deeper analysis by looking at data across angles or ‘axes’ – the vertical, the horizontal, and the transversal. In our analyses, the case studies of higher education institutions included Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and data collection from institutional leadership (e.g., Provosts, Deans), Faculty, Career Services, and students through surveys and/or focus group discussions. We also explored local connections to industry partners at each institution. Discussions with each of these stakeholder groups provided holistic insights into the key topics.

CIES panel

This panel brings together three members of this research consortium to present early findings from their individual case studies and share insights and thoughts related to the outcomes of research in their respective institutions. The panelists will discuss highlights from their research related to the ways in which faculty are making sense of the purposes of G-AI, the use of AI in the curriculum, what assumptions shape that use, and the possible implications of those behaviors for social advancement and equity, and the role AI plays in supporting higher education institutions to prepare the future workforce for successful careers.

Panelists will provide perspectives from their respective geographic regions and contexts and will reflect on the challenges they encountered during their research and identify areas for further research to advance our understanding of the intersection of AI, higher education and workforce development.

Sub Unit

Chair

Individual Presentations