With the world of education changing at an unprecedented pace, colleges and universities are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) technology to supplement their booming curricula. From conversations at our recent AI + Higher Ed conference emerged five strategies that will catalyze AI-focused education, ramming through administrative roadblocks and cementing buy-in across campus. These approaches are critical to the institutions looking to leverage AI and enhance their academic programs.
The call for enhanced AI education comes from the increasing need for trained professionals in this rapidly expanding field. Our nation’s top universities are already on the forefront of AI research, laying the foundation for a next-generation transformative teaching experience. Through implementation of these strategies, institutions are able to elevate the quality of their academic programs while elevating the quality of life in their local communities.
Key Strategies for Success
The first strategy is to promote a collaborative culture within and across all of the relevant departments represented at the university. Campus-wide buy-in is fundamental. Cross-campus support is critical, as it helps all stakeholders appreciate the AI-centricity of education. Ultimately, by developing a shared vision, different departments can combine their efforts to develop interdisciplinary courses that deepen the overall learning experience of students.
The second strategy an overall infrastructure — including economic, technological, educational, and financial infrastructure — for AI development. It’s vital for universities to commit state-of-the-art technologies and resources that promote active-based learning. Simply put, through our AI ecosystem, you can access cutting edge AI tools, data sets and platforms. These tools give you the power to put all that knowledge to practical use.
Third, profitable funding models and infrastructure approaches (i.e. adapt or adopt) should be localized to meet I.E., fiscal limits with performance imperatives. Institutions should pursue multiple avenues of funding, like federal and private grants, collaborations with industry experts, and philanthropy. By diversifying their revenue portfolios, universities can ensure they have the resources needed to develop and deploy AI programs in a meaningful way.
Real-World Case Studies
A number of top universities have already taken impressive leaps forward in AI research, serving as shining examples for others to follow. These institutions have made proven successes with AI a part of their programs, proving the benefits that this emerging technology can provide. The outcome is a greater overall enrollment in AI-related courses and up-to-par graduate placement rates.
Furthermore, these universities have adopted evidence-based practices to draw in the most talented faculty and students. By providing cutthroat incentives and developing a virtue signaling, unrivaled innovation culture, they’ve emerged as hotbeds for aspiring AI talent. That’s a really amazing benefit that enriches the learning experience greatly. It further strengthens the local economy by developing a pipeline of new tech sector job talent.
Measuring Success
To maximize the power of AI-centric education, institutions need to set clear, measurable metrics that measure ROI (return on investment). Their metrics might vary, but could range from enrollment figures and appropriate funding amounts, through retention rates and graduate placement data. By tracking these indicators on a consistent basis, universities can discover trends of concern and change their course of action to better address these needs.