Key points:
- There’s ample opportunity to increase AI adoption and showcase how it can benefit higher education
- Higher-ed administrators report a favorable view of the technology
- See related article: 3 critical considerations for generative AI on campus
- For more news on AI integration, see eCN’s Teaching & Learning page
The use of AI in higher education is not as widespread as perceived, according to a new report from Ellucian–still, many higher-ed administrators view AI favorably.
The comprehensive survey conducted with 1,140 U.S. higher-ed administrators from 768 institutions uncovers a significant opportunity, highlighting gaps between the perceived prevalence of AI and the actual reported usage by individuals.
“The findings of our survey highlight the untapped potential of AI in higher education,” said Jeff Dinski, Chief Strategy and Corporate Development Officer, Ellucian. “While there is a clear gap between the perceived and actual use of AI, our data shows that over 70 percent of respondents view AI favorably. This indicates a promising future for AI in enhancing efficiency, staying abreast with technological advances, and better supporting students and outcomes.”
Sixty percent of higher-ed administrators claim their institution uses AI functionality, but less than one-third of higher education professionals have experience using AI at work.
About half of respondents expect that the positive effects of AI will span the student experience, from better supporting the student journey to improving student outcomes at their institution.
Almost 48 percent of responding higher-ed administrators say they have yet to utilize AI in their personal or professional capacities.
Thirty percent of staff report “advanced” or “extensive” use of data analytics and data-driven decision-making.
The main barriers to AI adoption include data security concerns, the need for AI training programs, and ethical implications.
Institutional Research and Analytics, Admissions and Advising were identified as the three business functions across higher education that could benefit the most from AI integration.
Less than a third of institutions have initiated conversations about the ethical implications of AI in higher education.
This press release originally appeared online.
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