In response to the growing interest in generative AI and its transformative impact on higher education, the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) recently published a comprehensive whitepaper along with a project report, detailing the outcomes of an 18-month project Generative AI in Higher Education, supported by Microsoft.
Whitepaper Framework
The whitepaper, titled “Generative AI in Higher Education: Current Practices and Ways Forward,” was released in January 2025. It was authored by Professor Danny Liu from The University of Sydney and Professor Simon Bates, Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President, Teaching and Learning, The University of British Columbia, who also served as the academic lead for the project. The work aims to serve as a roadmap for institutions to develop comprehensive AI strategies that align with their core educational values.
The authors developed the ‘CRAFT’ framework, outlining five interdependent elements essential for successful AI integration:
- Culture represents both the greatest challenge and opportunity, requiring institutions to rethink their role in an AI-enabled world.
- Rules must evolve from restrictive policies to enabling frameworks that encourage innovation while ensuring ethical governance.
- Access remains a critical equity issue, as AI risks exacerbating existing digital divides without deliberate interventions to ensure equitable access to tools, infrastructure, and support.
- Familiarity emphasizes the need for systematic development of AI literacy among all stakeholders.
- Trust is identified as the foundation for progress, requiring transparency, collaboration, and demonstrated value across all levels of engagement.
The whitepaper calls for immediate, sector-wide action, proposing two key priorities:
- Formation of collaborative clusters to foster cooperation among universities in areas such as AI application development, assessment redesign, and faculty training.
- Elevation of students as partners through peer networks, ambassador programs, and co-design initiatives.
The authors stress that success will require fundamental transformation rather than incremental adaptation.
APRU Generative AI Project
The whitepaper is a main output of the Generative AI in Higher Education project launched in 2023 under APRU’s Future of University Working Group. The project aimed to explore the ways that generative AI can shape the future of higher education. The final report of the project, titled “Future Universities in a Generative AI World: Navigating Disruption to Direction” was published in February 2025, providing a narrative of the activities and workshop methodologies.
Over 18 months until December 2024, the project brought together over 70 participants, including academic experts, educators, students, and industry representatives, who contributed case studies, attended workshops, and provided strategic advice.
It was delivered in two phases, with Phase I (September-December 2023) collecting 33 case studies from APRU member universities and partner institutions to map the current use of generative AI in education and institutional operations.
Phase II was implemented throughout 2024 including three workshops:
- Sensemaking Workshop (virtual) in March,
- Foresight Workshop in June hosted at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), and
- Creative Sandbox session (virtual) in August.
These workshops provided a platform for participants to share practices, envision long-term futures, and identify critical considerations for institutions preparing for an AI-enabled world. The whitepaper and final project report compile the outcomes of these workshops and summarize the case studies.
“We trust the whitepaper will influence policies and support decision-making, thereby promoting a broader reimagination of universities as we enter the second quarter of the 21st century,” APRU Chief Executive Thomas Schneider said.
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