AI is everywhere, and the higher and further education sectors are no exception. Artificial intelligence is increasingly being integrated into higher and further education for a variety of uses by both staff and students. The new technology has the potential to herald a new era of innovation, creativity, and efficiency, and effectively revolutionise higher education. For students, AI powered tools can enable more personalised learning experiences, enhanced accessibility and research capabilities, easier collaboration, and automate student administrative and logistical tasks such as scheduling, registration, and financial aid management. For staff and administration, AI solutions also offer numerous benefits, including streamlined and more efficient administrative processes, data-driven decision making, recruitment and admissions process, as well as creative academic applications, such as having students critically evaluate AI generated texts, freeing up valuable staff time and resources for more personalised student support and academic initiatives.
Opportunities come with concerns
But these advancements come not without significant challenges and concerns, including questions about data privacy and security, bias, and academic integrity. Data privacy and security emerge as primary considerations, as AI systems collect and analyse vast amounts of sensitive student information. Moreover, the potential for bias in AI algorithms raises ethical questions regarding fairness and equity in educational outcomes. Concerns about the quality of education delivered through AI-driven platforms also warrant careful consideration, as institutions navigate the balance between technological innovation and academic rigour. Also, staff and administration might worry about the learning curve they may encounter as they integrate AI into their approaches.
On the student side, one of the main concerns is around plagiarism: new, powerful, easily accessible and free AI tools can easily generate content, tempting students to use them instead of conducting their own research and work. In addition, this could lead to a decline in critical thinking skills. Also, AI generated material can often contain imstakes and factual errors. Another concern is that AI algorithms could exhibit bias in their decision-making processes, leading to disparities in outcomes for students from different backgrounds. In addition, AI systems collect and analyse vast amounts of student data, raising concerns about privacy and data security.
The role of compliance training:
In a recent survey of university librarians, nearly three quarters responded saying there’s an urgent need to assess AI’s ethical and privacy concerns. They said they are fielding questions and concerns from faculty members about these issues and most are not equipped with enough knowledge to respond. Compliance training can play a pivotal role in navigating the complexities of AI integration in higher education. AI is here to stay, and trying to ignore it or ban it are not constructive and would only backfire. Embracing AI while addressing concerns surrounding data privacy, security, and ethical use, ensures that both staff and students are equipped with the knowledge and skills to responsibly use AI technologies, helping them harness the benefits and avoid the pitfalls. This is where compliance training comes into play. Training courses in this area cover topics such as data protection regulations, ethical considerations in AI development and implementation, and strategies for safeguarding against bias and discrimination in AI systems.
Through training, faculty members can gain the confidence and expertise to effectively integrate AI into their instructional approaches, enhancing teaching effectiveness and student learning outcomes. Students can be trained in how to engage with AI-driven technologies responsibly and ethically.
As AI continues to transform higher education, compliance training can serve as an indispensable tool for navigating the opportunities and challenges it presents. VinciWorks’ ‘Plagiarism in the Age of AI’ course, one of the courses in our data protection and information security suite in our new Higher Education and Further Education (HE/FE) training package, is designed to help students understand the problems and dangers of plagiarism and learn how to avoid it. Our HE/FE package is a one-stop-shop safety and compliance training package for higher and further education institutions and includes over 50 of the courses most commonly used and requested by other educational institutions so you can meet the training requirements of all your staff and students.
