Artificial intelligence in higher education

What role should artificial intelligence play in higher education? From ChatGPT to DeepSeek, generative AI (GenAI) tools of all kinds are forcing a rethink of university teaching, assessment, research and administrative work. Find out how to build AI literacy across an institution, use GenAI to support learning, harness AI tools as teaching and research assistants and manage the risks posed by GenAI and other AI technologies.

A group of students reading together

How can we embed Global South perspectives in GenAI teaching?

GenAI can accelerate learning, but if we aren’t careful, it can also reinforce colonial assumptions. Jasmine Mohsen explains how to avoid this

Jasmine Mohsen

SP Jain London School of Management

Stages of academic assessment

Assessment needs to grow up: what process and imperfection mean for higher education

Rather than railing against AI, educators could see this moment as an overdue correction and redesign assessment around what matters: the process by which humans think, revise and learn

Pontus Wärnestål

Halmstad University

A student giving a presentation in front of other students

AI tools that strengthen students’ communication skills

AI can help students reflect, practise and improve the skills employers really value, from writing clearly to speaking confidently and working effectively in teams

Nelly Ramirez Vásquez , Gabriela Espínola Carballo, Carla Camacho

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Male Asian student working on a robot arm

GenAI as a research assistant: transforming start-up due diligence

Universities are not just centres of innovation, they are also platforms for promoting the commercialisation of research. As ‘research assistants’, GenAI can open the door for ‘under the radar’ start-ups that human evaluators may miss

Tiam Lin Sze

Singapore Management University

A visualisation of analysing data sets

Use GenAI as your personal learner engagement analytics expert

Harness the student data in your virtual learning environment with a few choice prompts for GenAI

Stephen Buckingham

Queen Mary University of London

University students sitting at their desks

Why clear GenAI guidance matters to neurodivergent students. And how to get it right

Neurodivergent students often experience heightened anxiety when GenAI expectations vary across courses. Here’s how to design more consistent guidance

Jayne Quoiani

The University of Edinburgh

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Campus talks: why teaching with artificial intelligence is ‘like a giant field experiment’

THE Award-winning educationalist Jenny Moffett talks about using AI so it supports learning rather than risks deskilling students, dealing with uncertainty in the classroom and the value of boredom

Jenny Moffett

RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Human embracing AI in a handshake

Not faster but fairer: tame ‘techno-solutionism’ to build inclusive futures with AI

University leaders and academics must resist an open-armed embrace of AI and ask tough questions about who, really, is benefitting from its use in order to shape an inclusive future, writes Chie Adachi

Chie Adachi

Queen Mary University of London

AI and integrity concept

Teaching responsible use of GenAI in graduate studies

When graduate students learn to use AI transparently, to seek approvals, respect Indigenous consent and critically assess outputs, they develop skills essential for both academic success and professional practice

Katerina Standish

University of Northern British Columbia

Students use their laptops in class, looking focused

‘GenAI and critical thinking can – and should – work together’ 

Find out how to encourage critical thinking in the university classroom by working with GenAI tools, rather than against them 

Joel Davis, Jane Southworth, Kati Migliaccio

University of Florida

A student leaping from the exam hall into the real world

The evolution of authentic assessment in higher education

Practical advice on assessing students’ skills and application of learning in real-world, professional contexts

Campus contributors

Campus

THE Awards 2025 image

THE Awards 2025: lessons from the stars of UK and Irish higher education

Learn from leading voices, innovative teams and individuals across the university sector, whose work has been recognised in the shortlist for this year’s Times Higher Education Awards

Campus contributors, Eliza Compton

Campus

A snail on a laptop keyboard

Use GenAI to slow down and reflect more deeply

University staff are under pressure to produce more with less. But what if, instead of using GenAI to save time, we took a slower approach?

Sam Illingworth

Edinburgh Napier University

Woman asleep on a snail

What happened to creativity in the classroom?

When generative AI leads 150 students to submit the same ‘creative’ work, something is afoot in arts and humanities education. Here, Leah Henrickson and Luke Zaphir turn insights from cognitive science into ways to use AI to boost students’ creativity

Leah Henrickson, Luke Zaphir

The University of Queensland

An illustration of an AI with glasses, reading a book

Librarians, it’s time to lead the way

When GenAI first landed, many universities scrambled to understand it and how students might be using it. One library team took it upon themselves to adopt a holistic approach

Chris Porter

Birmingham Newman University

AI assistance concept illustration

AI as an access tool for neurodiverse and international staff

Used transparently and ethically, GenAI can level the playing field and lower the cognitive load of repetitive tasks for admin staff, student support and teachers

Vanessa Mar-Molinero

University of Southampton

An illustration of a businessman attempting to hit three targets with one bow

Why range may be a crucial skill for the employees of the future

Students today will be treading a career path that doesn’t exist yet. Here’s how to encourage them to develop the agility and resilience they’ll need for an uncertain world

Yılmaz Köylü

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Pedagogical innovation concept

Beyond learning design: supporting pedagogical innovation in response to AI

To avoid an unwinnable game of catch-up with technology, universities must rethink pedagogical improvement that goes beyond scaling online learning

Charlotte von Essen

Stockholm School of Economics

A university student taking notes by her laptop

AI for feedback: what to keep in mind when developing your own tool

Building an AI tool in-house allows institutions to retain control in a landscape increasingly dominated by external solutions. Here’s how to involve students, uphold ethical standards and navigate resistance

Isabel Fischer , Sean Enderby, Ross Hunter

The University of Warwick

Students working on a project together in class

How to test GenAI’s impact on learning

Rather than speculate on GenAI’s promise or peril, Thibault Schrepel suggests simple teaching experiments to uncover its actual effects

Thibault Schrepel

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Head made of cogs and jigsaw puzzle piece

Assessment tasks that support human skills

Assignments that focus on exploration, analysis and authenticity offer a road map for university assessment that incorporates AI while retaining its rigour and human elements

Amir Ghapanchi, Afrooz Purarjomandlangrudi

Victoria University

Students use their phones

What your students are thinking about artificial intelligence

GenAI has been quickly adopted by students, but the consequences of using it as a shortcut could be grave. A study into how students think about and use GenAI offers insights into how teaching might adapt

Florencia Moore, Agostina Arbia

Universidad Austral

A bungee jumper leaps from a platform

The creaking career ladder is now a bungee jump – prepare your students for a multi-career world

Generation Z want more variety, flexibility and faster development from their careers. It’s up to universities to equip them with the skills for the new career landscape

Deborah Bartlett

Al Akhawayn University

Students in class chatting

How to harness AI for student support: a human-centred approach

Drawing on the creation of a virtual assistant for her MBA students, Zemin Chen shares lessons for educators seeking to introduce GenAI into the classroom

Zemin Chen

University of Lancashire

A group of students chatting

Beyond the nine to five: preparing students as digital entrepreneurs

As AI and digital business reshape the world of work, universities must rethink traditional assessments and equip students with creativity, resilience and entrepreneurial skills for the new economy

Patrice Seuwou

University of Northampton

A toy robot sits on a stack of books

Turn AI from a magic box into a tool to be interrogated

Instead of ‘ban it or embrace it’, the AI Collaboration Toolkit offers a way for educators to frame AI as a collaborator, with ethical guard rails built in and an emphasis on the student’s thinking. Here’s how it works

Lucy Gill-Simmen, Will Shüler

Royal Holloway, University of London

A suited man and a robot face off in boxing gloves

Help your graduates beat AI in the job market by building transferable skills

Artificial intelligence is always going to have the edge when it comes to knowledge, so prepare students to become well-rounded employees. Find out how to equip them with transferable skills

Aliasgar Shahiwala, Rahma Nasir Iqbal

Dubai Medical University

Young woman using graphical interface

How AI can drive tailored learning

GenAI should be implemented in a way that enhances business students’ problem-solving skills without eroding the human element of learning, writes Andreas Rausch

Andreas Rausch

University of Mannheim

Illustration of figures looking at barrier and arrow

The craft and politics of academic writing in the AI universe

Writing lecturers will not reach students by simply talking down artificial intelligence. A more effective approach involves embracing our expertise and engaging in the politics of resistance, says Jane Bottomley

Jane Bottomley

KTH Royal Institute of Technology

A young woman puts a hand to her head while working at an office

Do your students know the consequences of AI use on an internship programme?

Students are using GenAI tools in their university work, but what about in the workplace? Are they unknowingly putting their employers at risk? Here’s how to prevent a potential data breach

Bonnie Dean, Kelli Nicola-Richmond, Joanna Tai, Jack Walton

University of Wollongong, Deakin University

Building blocks for AI policy

Why AI literacy must come before policy

When developing rules and guidelines around the uses of artificial intelligence, the first question to ask is whether the university policymakers and staff responsible for implementing them truly understand how learners can meet the expectations they set

Kathryn MacCallum, David Parsons

University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha

A white-coated figure handles test tubes

Four ways to shape the future of analytical labs now

Academic labs are key to research and innovation – but they need to keep evolving. Here’s how to make a lab smarter, greener and leaner

Imtias Amir Bahauddin

Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)

Students working on a film treatment with a camera in hand

How an AI video competition can enhance student engagement

A competition tasking first-years with making explainer videos is boosting engagement, deepening understanding and giving students valuable hands-on AI experience. See how

Xi Chen

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Teams that include AI agents and humans

How should universities teach leadership now that teams include humans and autonomous AI agents?

Trust and leadership style are emerging as key aspects of teambuilding in the age of AI. Here are ways to integrate these considerations with technology in teaching

Alex Zarifis

University of Southampton

A librarian assists a student using a tablet

Anatomy of a term paper: using information literacy skills with AI

How can librarians support students in developing information literacy skills and putting them to use in an AI-enabled world? Follow each step of researching and writing a term paper and find out how to encourage students to use their skills effectively along the way

Aster Zhao, Samson Choi, Gabi Wong

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

An AI helps a student learn

GenAI’s personalised learning could be a game-changer for disabled and neurodivergent students

Using GenAI to provide a truly learner-centric approach to both online and in-person learning could make a real difference to disabled and neurodivergent students. Here’s how

Lynne Beveridge, Melody Terras, Graham Scott, Naeem Ramzan

University of the West of Scotland

A student working on her laptop

Miro and GenAI as drivers of online student engagement

A set of practical strategies for transforming passive online student participation into visible, measurable and purposeful engagement through the use of Miro, enhanced by GenAI

Jaime Eduardo Moncada Garibay

CETYS Universidad

Young male student looking thoughtfully at a laptop

Solving the soft skills crisis using artificial intelligence

Employers seek transferable skills such as communication and cultural awareness, but how can universities translate these aspirations into meaningful, scalable learning experiences for students? AI personas offer possibilities

Kieran Williamson

University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha

A woman uses a magnifying glass to check her phone

How to spot misinformation online

Find out two ways of approaching the identification of online misinformation – from an external perspective and an internal one. Stephanie Tsang shows how

Stephanie Jean Tsang

Hong Kong Baptist University

Copyright concept

AI, copyright and the classroom: what higher education needs to know

As artificial intelligence reshapes teaching and research, one legal principle remains at the heart of our work: copyright. Understanding its implications isn’t just about compliance – it’s about protecting academic integrity, intellectual property and the future of knowledge creation. Cayce Myers explains

Cayce Myers

Virginia Tech

AI in education

Faced with GenAI, educators’ engagement capacity matters more than ever

As universities prepare students for a future shaped by GenAI, the challenge is to use technology as a co-pilot while fostering skills that AI cannot replace: critical thinking, creativity and ethical reasoning

Thomas Menkhoff

Singapore Management University

A research team discussing their findings

Why universities must lead on honest AI disclosure and how a new tool can help

Universities must bridge the gap between calls for GenAI transparency and workable standards. A new taxonomy offers a practical system to declare AI’s role in research openly and responsibly

Multiple authors

Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University, Berdyansk State Pedagogical University

A robot hand holds a lightbulb

Does GenAI provide the opportunity for creativity to take centre stage?

With GenAI, routine skills are on tap – creativity should now be a core literacy. Ioannis Glinavos explores what that means for higher education

Ioannis Glinavos

University of Westminster

Students on laptops in a classroom

A scaffolded approach to teaching with GenAI

As GenAI continues to reshape higher education, this four-phase framework by Rena Beatrice Alcalay offers educators ways to guide students to use these tools critically and ethically, fostering agency, bias awareness and deeper engagement in philosophical writing assignments

Rena Beatrice Alcalay

Technical University of Munich

Deciding between AI and human intelligence

Managing student risk AI-version

Could a safe space to experiment with using artificial intelligence to complete an assessment offer students a path to both deeper learning and AI proficiency?

Chris Jones

Regent’s University London

A robot hand presses a key on a laptop keyboard

‘Don’t be sorry, just declare it’: safeguarding the integrity of the essay

With the advent of GenAI, higher education has pronounced the essay dead. Benito Cao argues there are signs of life – and explains how to protect its integrity

Benito Cao

University of Adelaide

A student and an assessor roleplaying a client meeting

Interactive orals offer a solution to AI over-reliance in higher education

A scenario-based assessment method that promotes authentic learning can curb over-reliance on AI and build students’ professional communication skills. Here is a guide to interactive orals

Popi Sotiriadou , Dani Logan-Fleming

Griffith University, Torrens University

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Campus talks: are we facing a crisis in critical thinking in higher education?

Two academic experts in strategic decision-making and education discuss critical thinking, why it is under threat and what role it plays in preparing students for their digitally curated futures

Olivier Sibony, Tony Wagner

HEC Paris, Learning Policy Institute

Brightly-coloured speech bubbles and avatars

Discussion forums: the key to AI-proof assessment?

Providing a supportive learning culture for students will make them less likely to cheat – and discussion forums, with a few tweaks, may be the way to do it

Edward Palmer

University of Adelaide

A teacher marking students' work

How should assessors use AI for marking and feedback?

While much attention has focused on students’ use of GenAI, its potential to support assessors has mostly been overlooked. Here, Isabel Fischer shares draft principles co-created at a cross-institutional workshop to guide its responsible use in assessment, marking and feedback.

Isabel Fischer

The University of Warwick