Universities need to rethink how they teach, assess and prepare students for employment as artificial intelligence becomes an increasingly important part of everyday life and work, according to a new study from The University of Manchester.
The paper argues that AI is changing how people learn, work and make decisions, and that universities need to adapt to this new reality.
The study suggests universities should move beyond concerns about plagiarism and chatbot misuse, and instead focus on helping students develop the skills that AI cannot easily replace.
According to the research, graduates will increasingly need strong critical thinking, communication skills, ethical awareness and the ability to make sense of complex situations alongside an understanding of how AI works.
The paper, authored by Dr Kelechi Ekuma from The University of Manchester’s Global Development Institute, argues that development studies is particularly well placed to respond because of its long-standing focus on power, inequality, governance and social change.
What skills will matter most?
The study argues that employability should not be seen simply as a list of skills that students need to learn. Instead, universities should help students develop the ability to adapt to changing technology and new ways of working.
The paper identifies five capabilities that are likely to become increasingly important:
· Understanding how AI works and where it can make mistakes
· Making good judgements in complex situations
· Thinking about the ethical consequences of decisions
· Communicating and working effectively with others
· Adapting to new technologies and ways of working
Rather than producing technical AI experts, the paper argues universities should prepare graduates who can question AI-generated information, recognise its limitations and apply human judgement to real-world problems.
Looking beyond plagiarism concerns
The study also argues that universities have focused too heavily on concerns about cheating and AI-generated coursework.
Instead of relying mainly on AI detection tools, the paper calls for assessment methods that better test students’ thinking, judgement and understanding.
Suggested approaches include oral examinations, reflective accounts of how AI was used, collaborative projects and exercises based on real-world challenges.
According to the study, these approaches are better suited to assessing the skills that remain distinctly human and are increasingly valued by employers.
AI should be discussed across degree courses
The paper argues that AI should not be treated as a specialist topic limited to technology courses. Instead, universities should help students understand how AI is affecting issues such as government, public services, inequality, employment and international development.
The study warns that graduates entering careers in government, charities, international organisations, consultancy and public services are likely to encounter AI-powered systems throughout their working lives, regardless of whether they have a technical background.
What the researcher says
“The debate about AI in universities has often focused on whether students are using chatbots to complete assignments,” said Dr Kelechi Ekuma. “While those concerns are understandable, they risk missing a much bigger transformation. AI is changing how knowledge is created, how decisions are made and how many jobs are carried out – universities need to think carefully about how they prepare students for that future.”
“The skills that are likely to matter most are those that AI struggles to replicate, such as critical thinking, ethical judgement, communication and the ability to understand complex social issues.”
“The University of Manchester is a public research university in Manchester, England. The main campus is south of Manchester City Centre on Oxford Road.”
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