AI will revolutionize post-secondary programs and course creation. What does that mean for the future of universities and the value of human-led education?
To put this in context, I’ve designed decades worth of post-secondary programs ranging from 1-year certificates to 4-year degrees. The student value in creating these sizable learning experiences lies in their ability to provide a student with marketable skills in the job market and personal growth. For the business world, these programs provide the human capital they need to operate and compete successfully. Recently, I was reviewing a new course created by faculty, and it turned out to have been generated by AI.
It shouldn’t surprise me as I watch universities and professors complain about AI’s impact on the student work submitted to them. We should also consider AI’s implications for post-secondary business models. There are several key areas:
- Potential job displacement caused by automation: AI-powered platforms will be able to replace specific educational roles, such as course creation, assignment grading, and lecture delivery.
- Disruption of traditional teaching methods: AI-powered platforms will provide intelligent tutoring and adaptive learning, making education more accessible and personalized.
- Competition from online and alternative education providers: AI learning platforms will offer students more flexible, relevant and affordable options.
- Challenges adapting to AI and maintaining relevance: To remain competitive, post-secondaries will need to invest in expensive AI tools and platforms. They will also need to rethink the faculty role and the post-secondary experience, which may require significant changes to their business models and operations.
- Potential vulnerability to revenue streams: With other revenue streams and facing limits on tuition hikes, post-secondaries must look for new markets for revenue and students. International student recruitment has been a focus for many post-secondaries.
The timeline for disruption in post-secondary education is debatable, but given the pace of AI development, it will happen in the next 5-10 years. The end of post-secondary education isn’t inevitable, and they must develop strategies to adapt now. The strategies depend on the type of post-secondary and the learning experience they offer. Some common elements that all post-secondaries would need include:
- Ethical implementation of AI: Several ethical considerations, such as transparency, fairness, and data privacy, must be addressed in designing and deploying AI systems.
- Develop AI policies: Post-secondaries need to establish clear policies and frameworks to guide AI’s responsible and effective integration into teaching, learning and decision-making.
There are many other elements, but the key to this is constant evaluation and adaptation. One of the best descriptions I’ve seen of a successful future with AI is the concept of co-intelligence, which Ethan Mollick described in his book Co-intelligence. It is the idea that an individual (or institution) who understands AI’s abilities and limitations is uniquely positioned to realize AI’s full potential. A diversity of thought is beneficial, and post-secondaries will need to include the perspective of AI to reach the solutions and innovations required to navigate the disruption ahead.
References
Chan, C.K.Y. A comprehensive AI policy education framework for university teaching and learning. Int J Educ Technol High Educ 20, 38 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-023-00408-3
EULER University Institute. (2023, August 22). Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a threat to higher education – EFMU: The Euler-Franeker Memorial University and Institute. EFMU: The Euler-Franeker Memorial University and Institute. https://euler.euclid.int/artificial-intelligence-ai-as-a-threat-to-higher-education/
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