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.

By Laura.Duckett, 24 March, 2026

Build information literacy with AI: a teaching librarian approach

A group of students and a teacher having a discussion in a library

Teach students to use AI appropriately for research tasks by showing them the tools’ strengths and limitations and by promoting critical reflection, says Callum Perry

By kiera.obrien, 23 March, 2026

Using GenAI avatars to assess empathy: how it works in practice

A student and an old man chat in a virtual surrounding

Could GenAI offer a new way to assess communication skills? Here’s what happened when a university team built an avatar

Reading time

5minutes

By Laura.Duckett, 23 March, 2026

Every AI learning persona needs an origin story

Students in a boardroom working on a company project

Anna, a fictional social responsibility consultant, mentors students analysing a company in crisis. Her story shows how thoughtfully designed AI personas can turn simple chat interactions into immersive learning experiences

Reading time

5minutes

By kiera.obrien, 20 March, 2026

GenAI as a teaching colleague in assessment: a case study

An illustration of AI helping a student work

GenAI can be a useful tool in assessment – if used intentionally. Find out what an intelligent dashboard can do for your students’ relationship to GenAI

Reading time

3minutes

By kiera.obrien, 12 March, 2026

Show students what thoughtful engagement with GenAI looks like

A teacher stands in front of a projector screen

Face it: students are going to use GenAI whether we ban it or not. Let’s support them to use it purposefully and curiously

Reading time

5minutes

By kiera.obrien, 11 March, 2026

Learning by doing in a GenAI-enabled world

The best way for students to learn is by doing. But now GenAI is a non-negotiable in university teaching, what does that mean? Renia Lopez-Ozieblo explores

Reading time

4minutes

By kiera.obrien, 9 March, 2026

GenAI can join the dots, so teach students to draw new lines in empty space

A teacher explains a circuit board to a class

GenAI tools are getting better at tasks such as sorting data, writing basic reports and generating simple code. That’s why higher education needs to focus on what it can’t do

Reading time

5minutes

By kiera.obrien, 5 March, 2026

Beat GenAI ‘stranger danger’ with staff training

Higher education staff are apprehensive about the new stranger in the room: GenAI. But personalisation and staff development can help alleviate anxiety

Reading time

4minutes

By kiera.obrien, 2 March, 2026

Why GenAI helps some students but not others (and what to do about it)

GenAI can boost learning on average, according to research – but individual outcomes vary widely. Here’s how to help every student benefit

Reading time

4minutes

By Laura.Duckett, 27 February, 2026

From library to dance floor: how I created an academic Eurotrance album

Academics can use AI-enabled music platforms to transform complex research into their own singles or albums reaching thousands of listeners. Andrew Hudson-Smith explains how

Reading time

5minutes

Artificial intelligence in higher education