Higher eds need to embed AI into the core of learning to ensure an AI-ready workforce of tomorrow, argues Pluralsight’s Chris Herbert.
As more and more organisations incorporate advanced AI technologies into work processes and rewrite policies to reflect a new stance on the professional use of AI, they create a system that depends on a workforce skilled in AI.
For Chris Herbert, the chief curriculum officer at edtech Pluralsight, higher education institutions are failing to keep pace with these industry changes and must “seriously consider how they’re teaching the skills that will be crucial in the workplace of the future”.
Governments and universities are beginning to respond, however, for example, Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet and Technological University Dublin recently launch Ireland’s first master’s in sustainable cloud computing, a field that requires significant AI knowledge.
Herbert noted that the UK government is funding a number of AI master’s programmes and degrees, while some US institutions, such as Ohio State have launched AI fluency initiatives that require students to upskill in AI.
“Initiatives like these need to be implemented more widely in order to fill the increasing number of AI-focused roles,” said Herbert.
“Universities provide an important opportunity for the future workforce to build an AI foundation, but the rate at which AI is evolving means that once students leave universities and enter the professional world, they’ll need to commit to continuous upskilling at work.”
Core AI
But, he explained, it can’t be a half effort. To fully prepare students for an AI-driven future, “one-off courses in AI fundamentals aren’t going to cut it”. AI skills have to be embedded into the very core of learning, whether the student is in a highly technical field or not.
And it would be a mistake to focus only on the technical aspects. On top of learning the practical elements of AI and how to use the various tools, future graduates should have a background in AI’s use as an assistant, not as a replacement for their own critical thinking.
He says students should learn about setting guidelines that promote the safe and ethical use of AI, as well as experimentation, exploring new concepts and topics. By integrating AI into the core of the students’ workflows, they can naturally develop their AI fluency, understanding how it can be responsibly applied to advance their fields of interest.
Organisational readiness
That is not to say, however, that organisations are miles ahead of educational institutions in their readiness to adopt new and transformative ideas.
Herbert noted that sometimes established professionals can exaggerate their knowledge of AI and as universities rapidly introduce digital literacy into their wider curriculum, “it’s highly likely that future grads might be more fluent in AI than their teammates and managers, especially given the skills gap that already exists in businesses”.
Moreover, there is also the possibility that many of the students studying today are preparing for jobs that could look significantly different by the time they graduate, or they may even find themselves applying for roles that, as of yet, don’t exist.
“If businesses want to fully capitalise on a new generation of AI-ready professionals’ expertise, they must proactively address the knowledge gap now,” explained Herbert.
“That means arming the existing workforce with the skills needed to lead AI-native teams. Without foundational AI knowledge, managers risk underutilising skilled talent. A manager who doesn’t understand the capabilities of AI may unintentionally limit what their team can achieve.”
There needs to be a commitment to forward-thinking projects, not just legacy technologies, especially as industries that are struggling to retain skilled staff work.
“You see this clearly on the front end of the talent management equation today. Industries like manufacturing and energy struggle to attract top talent because they’re seen as stagnant and antiquated, when in reality there are interesting tech problems to be solved in those industries.
“Employers not only need to offer the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology, but advertise that they’re doing it too,” said Herbert.
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