Dive Brief:
- The BBC profiles the increasing presence of artificial intelligence in higher education, with institutions like Georgia Tech pioneering developments in technology which can answer and ask students questions within a curriculum spectrum.
- Some observers say that automation could be a positive development for higher education, but aside from the damage to the job market, it still cannot provide the inspiration in learning that is innate to human interaction and teaching.
- The rise of robotics and AI in education parallels shifts in other industries, as domestic manufacturers have lost more than 8 million jobs since 1979, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Dive Insight:
With every development, it becomes apparent that technological advancement will be the future of industry, and consequently learning and workforce development. Schools will have to adapt by reforming curriculum and career preparation to emerging tech industries across disciplines, including the liberal arts and social sciences, in order to prepare front line, managerial and executive talent in the new jobs of the future.
Higher education is already positioned to be ahead of this movement by way of research and development. It can boost its own innovation and make students a larger part of the effort by developing professional training during undergraduate study to ensure that companies are playing an active role in financing and training their own workers throughout college.