AI in Learning and Teaching
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming an essential tool in higher education. It can design courses, provide personalised student support, automate marking, and even assist with accreditation. Whether universities are ready or not, these capabilities will soon be part of everyday teaching and learning.
Yet many institutions remain slow to adopt AI, held back by long-standing traditions and entrenched practices. Just as MOOCs and YouTube transformed learning years ago, AI now offers a similar, and perhaps greater, opportunity to reshape education. Realising that potential, however, demands a shift in mindset, culture, and delivery methods.
AI has the potential to address some of the sector’s biggest challenges. It can work alongside traditional teaching to:
- Expand reach – Deliver quality education to more students without building more campuses.
- Maintain standards – Ensure consistency in marking and curriculum delivery.
- Personalise learning – Tailor support to individual needs, improving student outcomes.
- Ease cost pressures – Reduce the resources needed to deliver high-quality education.
Some estimates suggest that AI-supported courses could cost just 20–25% of traditional programs. With strategic partnerships, even a small portion of a university’s budget could launch effective AI-powered initiatives.
The most significant barrier is the belief that meaningful learning must occur in a physical classroom. AI challenges this “tyranny of proximity” by enabling learning anywhere, anytime—often at a fraction of the cost.
However, adoption must be careful and deliberate. Universities should avoid:
- Rushing out low-quality AI courses with the intention of fixing them later.
- Overloading human educators to compensate for weak AI systems
- Avoid burnout and rising costs.
Key concerns still need addressing, including ethics, bias reduction, student data protection, and setting rigorous standards for AI-assisted qualifications.
The providers should focused on three core goals for education:
- Access – Expanding opportunities for all learners.
- Quality – Ensuring education genuinely benefits students.
- Affordability – Keeping costs sustainable.
If implemented strategically, AI can help achieve all three.
AI should not be seen as a replacement for educators but as their powerful partner. Institutions that are willing to move beyond old habits and adopt a digital-first mindset will be at the forefront of education’s future.
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