Key points:
- A gap in AI use leaves students unprepared for AI use in future careers
- When and how to acknowledge AI use in academic work
- AI may unleash the most entrepreneurial generation we’ve ever seen
- For more news on AI and career readiness, visit eCN’s AI in Education hub
A major gap in how colleges and universities are preparing students to leverage advanced AI in the workplace could leave students at a professional disadvantage, according to new research from Honorlock.
The survey of more than 1,000 college-enrolled students in the US found that more than 56 percent of respondents are required to use AI in coursework, and 63 percent use AI for at least some assignments. Of these students, 81 percent feel confident using AI tools, but the majority of their reported usage consists of low-level chatbot queries. The most-cited uses of AI include grammar and editing (59 percent) and generating text (57 percent). Brainstorming ideas and explaining concepts using AI ranked as the number one and two AI uses for coursework.
Survey data reveal a stark disconnect: while roughly half of students expect to rely on AI in their future careers, and believe AI proficiency may matter more than a college degree, only 31 percent are aware of AI courses offered by their institutions, and fewer than 20 percent have taken them. This gap underscores an urgent and growing need for structured AI education that equips students to use AI responsibly and ethically today, while building the foundational skills required to apply advanced AI in tomorrow’s workforce.
“The data indicates that students are learning AI on their own terms, not directly through structured coursework designed to apply advanced AI aptitude in the workplace. Universities have an opportunity to help students prepare for the use of AI across critical business applications including data capture and analysis, marketing, coding and cybersecurity,” said Michael Hemlepp, CEO of Honorlock. “In addition, colleges have a duty to start educating students on the ethical use of these tools, their benefits and drawbacks as they prepare to enter the workforce.”
Opportunities for institutions to provide instructional support include classes or coursework on the following topics:
- Introduction to the field of artificial intelligence, risks and rewards
- AI use cases in business, with coursework supporting varied areas of expertise like financial services and accounting, law, retail, computer science, engineering, science, healthcare and others
- AI ethics, governance, integrity and responsible use in the workplace
- AI credentials for career advancement
As AI becomes further embedded in higher education, questions of ethics continue to rise. Survey results show that more than one-third of students (36 percent) admit to using chatbots to assist with quizzes or exam questions, a growing academic integrity red flag. Findings further stress that institutions must incorporate responsible AI use education into their curriculum. Clear policies, tools like test and assessment proctoring and adaptive assignments can be part of that process but ultimately, schools must balance the need to educate students on tools for career success while nurturing a culture of integrity.
This press release originally appeared online.
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