APRU spearheads collaborative efforts for responsible AI integration in higher education

This Microsoft-backed Foresight Workshop explores “The Future of Generative AI in Education”, bringing together APRU network members at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology campus

APRU’s latest Foresight Workshop at HKUST brought together over 40+ experts and practitioners to foster effective and responsible AI frameworks in higher education

The Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) has made significant strides toward advancing the integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in education. Considering the rapidly advancing nature of generative AI tools, an international project, “The Future of Generative AI in Education”, has been initiated with the support of the industry leader Microsoft. This initiative offers a comprehensive perspective to showcase opportunities, challenges, and gaps in adapting generative AI in education. It aims to identify solutions to forge a future-ready, transparent AI framework for universities.

In collaboration with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), the Foresight Workshop was successfully held on their campus on 13-14 June 2024. The event attracted over 40 international academic experts, key practitioners specialising in generative AI and education, university students, and education technology start-ups. Through a meticulous and collaborative process, various future scenarios were developed to provide members of the education industry with insights into the multifaceted opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in the realm of AI integration within higher education.

“At APRU, we recognise the common challenges and resource disparities that some universities encounter,” said Dr Simon Bates, Vice-Provost and Associate Vice President, Teaching and Learning at the University of British Columbia, Academic Lead for the APRU “Generative AI in Education” project. “Our focus is on cultivating vibrant communities of sharing and learning, and fostering collaboration among institutions. With the growing uptake of widely available generative AI tools in higher education, now is the opportune moment to leverage this collaboration to develop adoption frameworks that empower institutions to embrace a tech-forward tomorrow, supporting a workforce that’s future ready.”

Dr. Simon Bates leads the research team to explore integration of generative AI tools into academic offerings in higher education.

Over the two-day Foresight Workshop, participants engaged in creative, future-orientated discussions and deliberations, including an introduction to the strategic foresight approach, presentations outlining key findings, and parallel sessions to project future trends and emerging innovations. Future models were crafted by attendees, such as ‘personalised university’, where students were paired with AI tutors, receiving tailored guidance and support throughout their learning journey. The collaborative sessions also anticipated a shift of research from individual institutions to globally distributed networks, fostering cooperation and advancing ambitious projects with the aid of AI. These models and scenarios offer a glimpse into how generative AI could revolutionise some of the key aspects of higher education in the future.

“At HKUST, we emphasise the crucial role of cross-institutional collaboration and knowledge sharing to fully understand the impact of generative AI in higher education. As a leader in embracing GenAI, we have been at the forefront of exploring how this technology influences various aspects of teaching and learning, including assessment and curriculum design, teaching practices, student engagement, cognitive impacts, and professional development,” said Dr. Sean McMinn, Director of HKUST Center for Education Innovation. “The APRU workshop is pivotal in this endeavour, allowing us to share our experiences and learn from others. HKUST has actively contributed cases to the workshop and conducted internal initiatives through our Education and Generative Artificial Intelligence (EDGE-AI) funded projects.”

“This workshop serves as an exciting and concerted effort for universities to exchange insights as it will empower universities to address the challenges on the integration of generative AI and upskilling individuals, seize this opportunity for innovation, and navigate the ever-evolving landscape of AI in education and research,” said Dr Catherine Zhou, Teaching Associate at the Office of the Dean of Engineering, HKUST.

Left: Dr. Sean McMinn leads innovative teaching and learning strategies at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s Center for Education Innovation.

Right: Dr. Catherine Zhou’s research and teaching interests include research ethics and integrity, as well as student-centred learning.

The ‘The Future of Generative AI in Education’ initiative encompasses multiple phases. By the end of 2023, over 30 case studies across the APRU network were compiled, illustrating the diverse ways generative AI tools support learning, teaching, and institutional functions. The initiative’s second phase commenced with a Sensemaking Workshop held on 14-15 March 2024, where common patterns and trends across case studies were further identified to inform effective strategies for adoption.

Building on the resounding success of the 2024 Foresight Workshop, APRU is delighted to announce the upcoming virtual Creative Sandbox later this year in August 2024. This event will delve into the critical issues and promising solutions identified during the workshop. By the end of 2024, a final project white paper will be crafted, synthesising original insights from all materials and workshops. This white paper aims to provide comprehensive understanding of AI to support university leaders, faculty, students, and administrators across Asia-Pacific in understanding and potentially adopting emerging best practices at different levels of institutional readiness.