Tag: UK universities

‘Urgent Need’ for More AI Literacy in Higher Education, Report Says

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An aerial, wide shot of a large, circular university lecture hall filled with many students seated at desks, all looking towards a prominent stage and screen at the front. A powerful spotlight shines onto the empty stage. Above the students and emanating from the screen, a dense network of glowing digital lines, icons, and data points fills the air, representing AI and digital information. Below the central spotlight, floating holographic icons labeled "AI KNOWLEDGE" and "DIGITAL SKILLS" are prominently displayed, emphasizing the core concepts. Image (and typos) generated by Nano Banana.
A recent report highlights the critical need for increased AI literacy across higher education institutions. As technology rapidly advances, universities face an urgent challenge to equip students with the essential knowledge and digital skills required for an AI-driven future. Image (and typos) generated by Nano Banana.

Source

Research Professional News

Summary

A new report from the Higher Education Policy Institute warns that British universities must urgently improve AI literacy among both staff and students to stay relevant and equitable in an era of rapid digital transformation. Co-authored by Professor Wendy Hall and Giles Carden of the University of Southampton, the report argues that universities can no longer afford to simply “acknowledge AI’s presence” and must adopt structured strategies for skills development, teaching innovation, and research support. It highlights growing digital divides across gender, income, and subject disciplines. Contributions include a chapter written by ChatGPT itself, advocating AI training within doctoral and staff development programmes, and cautioning against uneven capability across institutions. The report also predicts that AI adoption could lead to job reductions in professional services as universities seek financial efficiencies.

Key Points

  • The Higher Education Policy Institute calls for systemic AI literacy across the UK university sector.
  • Experts stress active engagement and structured upskilling, not passive awareness.
  • Digital divides linked to gender, wealth, and discipline risk deepening inequality.
  • ChatGPT’s own chapter recommends integrating AI training into research and doctoral curricula.
  • Financial pressures may drive automation and staff cuts in professional services.

Keywords

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URL

https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-universities-2025-10-urgent-need-for-more-ai-literacy-in-higher-education-report-says/

Summary generated by ChatGPT 5

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A new academic year has begun – but UK universities are still struggling to respond to AI

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In the quad of a traditional UK university, students mill about as a new academic year begins. A notice board reads "WELCOME FRESHERS!" and "AI ESSAY POLICY UNCERTAIN." In the foreground, a professor stands at a podium with a laptop, while a large, glowing red question mark, integrated with digital interfaces, hovers amidst a group of students, symbolizing the ongoing struggle and uncertainty universities face in responding to AI. Image (and typos) generated by Nano Banana.
Even as a new academic year commences, universities across the UK continue to grapple with formulating a clear and effective response to the pervasive influence of AI. This image captures the scene of students beginning their studies amidst an atmosphere of unresolved questions and policy uncertainty surrounding AI’s role in higher education. Image (and typos) generated by Nano Banana.

Source

LSE Impact of Social Sciences Blog

Summary

As the 2025 academic year kicks off, many UK universities remain unprepared for AI’s impact despite mounting pressure. The article reports that institutional policies are inconsistent and often reactive; many faculty and students are unclear about permitted AI use. Some courses have introduced AI literacy modules, but uptake is patchy. The author argues that universities need structural support: coordinated policy frameworks, staff training, cross-departmental collaboration, and genuine student participation in policy design. Without this, universities risk wide disparities in practice and credibility gaps between policy and classroom reality.

Key Points

  • Universities’ AI policies remain inconsistent, often drafted last minute without full stakeholder consultation.
  • Many faculty lack training or confidence in integrating AI ethically; students similarly uncertain.
  • Some courses have begun adding AI literacy to curricula, but coverage is uneven.
  • Without central coordination, departments forge their own rules — leading to confusion and inequity.
  • Sustainable response requires institutional investment: training, infrastructure, participative governance.

Keywords

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URL

https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2025/09/26/a-new-academic-year-has-begun-but-uk-universities-are-still-struggling-to-respond-to-ai/

Summary generated by ChatGPT 5

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