Output list
Abstract
AI, critical thinking and ethical practice: work-ready management graduates in an AI-driven world
Published 15/11/2023
ICERI 2023, 13/11/2023–15/11/2023, Seville Spain
The emergence of generative AI presents unique opportunities and challenges for teaching, learning, and assessment in Higher Education. This paper proposes that there is an urgent need to embed generative AI in higher education and presents practical guidance to do so, with a specific focus on its implications for the future workforce from a management education perspective. By identifying and evaluating evidenced based examples to foster critical-digital literacy in educators and students, this guide aims to equip them with the distinctively human, creative, and intelligent skills required to thrive in an AI-enabled world. Generative AI technologies are reshaping industries and economies worldwide. Several new categories of job are emerging as a result of the impact of AI in general. The impact of this transformation will increase rapidly in the coming decades affecting virtually every industry seeking to adapt their business models to leverage inherent advantages of AI (Brynjolfsson & Mcafee, 2017). Higher education institutions can respond proactively to these changes to ensure the curriculum remains relevant to prepare graduates for the future of work with skills needed to be successful contributors in a knowledge economy (Sollosy and McInerny, 2022). Recent research suggests employers value students who demonstrate a strong foundation in traditional intellectual attributes along with the ability to communicate coherently results of data big data analysis (Pan et al., 2018). The Chartered Association of Business Schools recommended higher education institutions to shift from knowledge testing to competence assessment and performance evaluation to meet the demands of an AI-enabled workforce (Kolade, 2023). Hinchcliffe (2023) indicated educators can innovate and make curriculum relevant for work by effectively embedding generative AI in education. As generative AI enables a nuanced understanding of student progress by processing diverse data points, harnessing its power to personalise teaching, adapt learning environments, and to design authentic assessments (Arnold, 2023), educators can bridge the gap between academic knowledge and critical digital literacy skills, making students more competitive in the workforce and foster student creativity. Students, in turn, can benefit from interactive and immersive learning experiences that promote critical thinking and problem-solving to adapt to changing workplace dynamics, collaborate with AI systems, and leverage AI tools to innovate and solve complex problems. As AI becomes increasingly pervasive, it is crucial to cultivate a deep understanding of its ethical and responsible use by fostering critical digital literacy skills in students and staff alike Higher education institutions can play a pivotal role in this matter by shaping future professionals who can navigate the ethical considerations, privacy concerns, and potential biases associated with generative AI (Hinchcliffe, 2023). Careful evaluation of data sources, algorithm transparency, and ethical considerations are essential when using Generative AI for teaching, learning and assessment (Hartley et al., 2023). In this we offer practical guidance to respond to the urgency to embed generative AI in higher education by striking a balance between AI capabilities and human expertise to ensure critical reflective use, fairness, accuracy, and holistic leveraging practices.