In higher education, this change is often perceived as scary and something that will overhaul the entire industry. However, whilst shifts are coming, and other sectors may experience mass disruption, universities will not.

Inspired by our pilot episode of season 2 of The Brand Education Podcast with Paul J. LeBlanc, we delve into how higher-education institutions can reimagine their future in an ever changing environment. Paul, former President of Southern New Hampshire University and co-founder of Human Systems, guides us through the role of AI in education and what exciting new chapters this technology will create for universities globally.

AI and workforce shifts

The higher education sector has historically lived in an ecosystem of history, where learning was the sole outcome. Now, universities have a different role to play, as they adapt to becoming not only a learning environment, but one where students develop new workplace-based skills. When a paradigm shift takes place, different kinds of people are created, and strong missions from universities must align with the ever changing needs of students.

As Paul told us, “universities were historically training grounds for priests and then you look at these institutions today, especially in the American context, and they are now focussing on training workers for a knowledge economy. The number one question now – outside of research, scholarship, multi-billion dollar sports activities, and universities being economic engines for their communities – is how to prepare individuals for the job market and feed the workforce?”

When we think about the workforce, we also think about how AI will bring great transformation. The World Economic Forum predicts that 85 million jobs will be displaced in 2025 alone, and so universities are going to have to think hard about how they navigate this.

“If we’re knowledge factories producing knowledge workers for a knowledge economy, what happens when human beings are no longer the most powerful entities in terms of knowledge work?”, Paul asks.

AI must come fully into force when we think about the workforce, especially if is set to change so quickly.

However, Paul continues to state that AI can provide universities with an opportunity to rethink their mission. “I think this is an invitation for universities to get back to the fundamental existing questions that are grounded in philosophy and religious studies. These concern: what is knowledge? How is knowledge constructed? What is knowledge for? What does it mean to be a fully formed human being when the world looks so different? What do we think about our communities? But, we as an industry are not built for that.”

Reinvention with the help of AI

Paul spoke about being influenced by the work of economist, Carlota Perez, to explain how universities might reinvent themselves with the help of AI.

“Carlota Perez studies historically what happens when you have a paradigm shift in technology. We’re now entering a pretty chaotic time, this inbetween, where everything is being reordered. During these times, it’s historically been where revolutions, wars, governments failing, and social upheaval takes place.

A lot of incredibly positive things take place too though. For example, if we go back to the industrial age, we saw the creation of capitalism, and large proportions of the population being lifted out of poverty. With globalisation, a new interconnected world was created. However, this was then contrasted with colonisation, environmental degradation and exploitation. So it’s an incredibly complicated period we’re about to enter and it definitely feels that way. We’re in uncharted waters, but Perez’s work confirms that we will get through this period and enter a golden age.”

In terms of universities reinventing themselves and getting through this tough period of change, Paul recommends three things that universities can do right now:

1.        “In the short term, we need to think about the ways that AI can help us improve what we already do. This could be creating content much faster, providing AI tutors, and creating real personalisation for the first time.

2.        Universities also need to look at how they can implement AI into their operations – from HR, to Marketing, to IT. This will help institutions to operate more efficiently, productively, and ultimately save costs.

3.        Whilst the above are about how we can do things more efficiently, they only focus on the current system. Space needs to be carved out that explores how universities will reinvent themselves, their systems, and their values. What will the future of work look like? How will you realign your curriculum? What majors will you start to wind down? What majors will you create? Will humans move away from high status work like law or accounting, and instead become teachers or counsellors. The latter teaching focused roles are not paid that well or as highly regarded in our current society, but this could change too. AI could do your accounting, but it cannot hold your child and make them feel loved.”

Future proofing universities and looking ahead

Whilst other industries will experience mass disruption, it is more likely that higher education will experience a slow movement. However, Paul comments, “we have to be careful to not overestimate the amount of change over the next couple of years, but we also have to be careful not to underestimate either. In 10 years time, higher education will look different.

“Every university should be asking, what are the AI tools my students need to master in order to be competitive in the world? There is a saying that you won’t lose your job to AI, but you’ll lose it to someone who knows how to work with AI. So, universities need to equip students with these tools as an absolute minimum to be able to secure their careers after university.”

We’ve seen that universities don’t tend to reinvent themselves by looking ahead, but because they are forced to. This reactive approach to budget cuts, lesser demand for the humanities, and reduced international student intake, is more harmful in the long term because institutions are not prepared to navigate change. Specifically, technological transformations in higher education. But as Paul argues, “AI might actually move us back to the humanities because these are the only disciplines to ask the bigger questions.”

“Right now, in the US, we are averaging at one institutional closure per week. Now, they tend to be private or smaller schools, but public institutions are also closing. I think it’s better to reinvent yourself on your own terms rather than being told it’s something you must do to survive.”

Aspects of higher education that will stay the same

We’ve spoken a lot about change and what the future of universities will look like across the world. However, it is also important to consider the aspects of the sector that won’t change. It’s no surprise that the subject of students and the irreplaceable qualities of humanity that AI cannot replace, were at the forefront of our discussion with Paul.

“When we talk about students and their transformation, personal development, growth, and the ability to change the trajectory of their life – all these things won’t change. Of course, the extent to which each institution thinks about their students will vary, but the primary consideration of students shouldn’t and won’t change.

In the end, there is no transformation that doesn’t include deep human relationships. I have three teachers in mind who changed my life. It wasn’t because they were good teachers, but because I felt like I mattered to them. They gave me their time, care, and they wanted to be helpful. They also lifted my sights and planted that initial seed of college, as no one in my family or even neighbourhood had gone to university. It gave me a dream.

AI cannot do that. Yes, AI can give you personalised learning, but learning isn’t the most important aspect of education. I can’t say what I learnt from those teachers, but I can say how they transformed my life. This ability of human beings to transform will not change over the next 10 years.”

So, where we’ve explored that AI can be a catalyst for knowledge work, it cannot replace human relationships at universities. Institutions need to cultivate and prioritise these emotions in order to reimagine their future, and work with AI to reinvent themselves in the discussed proactive ways.

You can listen to our conversation with Paul over on The Brand Education Podcast now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.