AI Emerges as Infrastructure: Education Fails to Catch Up
In an increasingly AI-driven world, higher education institutions are evolving to meet the growing demand for AI literacy among students. The focus is on equipping graduates with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the complexities of AI, ensuring they can thrive in the workforce of tomorrow.
One of the key aspects of this shift is the institutional mandate for AI fluency. Universities like Ohio State University now require all undergraduates to complete AI training, embedding AI literacy across all disciplines. This broad approach aims to make every graduate fluent in AI concepts and capable of applying AI to advance their respective fields of study.
Another significant development is the adoption of human-centered AI literacy frameworks. The Digital Education Council has developed a framework that prioritizes foundational AI competencies alongside critical human skills like creativity, emotional intelligence, and critical thinking. This framework is designed to be adaptable across disciplines and jurisdictions, providing students with a well-rounded understanding of AI.
Interdisciplinary programs combining technical and ethical learning are also becoming more prevalent. For instance, Washburn University offers an interdisciplinary AI literacy and application certificate developed jointly by computer science and philosophy faculties. This program provides students with hands-on technical experience and critical discussions on ethical issues around AI, making it accessible to students without prior coding experience.
Educators are also focusing on critical AI literacy, helping students understand the societal and cultural impacts of generative AI tools. This includes exploring how AI affects textual, visual, procedural culture, and creativity, preparing students for complex real-world AI applications and ethical considerations.
Programs targeting underrepresented and underserved communities are also on the rise. Initiatives like the AI Literacy Pipeline to Prosperity Project (AILP³) provide youth from underserved backgrounds with technical, entrepreneurial, and financial literacy skills aligned with AI workforce demands.
To ensure workforce alignment and real-world applications, many programs emphasize practical skills and workforce readiness through corporate partnerships and internships. This reflects a growing recognition of the need for AI education that goes beyond theory to include ethical, technical, and socio-economic elements.
However, today's AI education has not kept pace with real-world AI adoption. Post-secondary programs are starting to focus on industry-specific AI, rather than relying on open-source models. Schools are also redefining what it means to be job-ready, integrating AI education into general education from an early stage.
As employer expectations shift, with a focus on candidates who know how to prompt and evaluate AI, AI skills are becoming just as important as credentials in today's job market. With more than half of graduates saying their schooling didn't prepare them to use AI in the workforce, there is a clear need for higher education to adapt and evolve to meet the demands of the AI-driven economy.
In Canada, 60% of people support teaching AI literacy in schools by 2026, reflecting a growing awareness of the importance of AI literacy. As the risks of deploying AI without proper guardrails and education pose a threat to the future of work, it is clear that AI education will continue to be a priority for higher education institutions.
Sources: [1] Digital Education Council, AI Literacy Framework, [website], [date of publication] [2] Operation HOPE, AI Literacy Pipeline to Prosperity Project, [website], [date of publication] [3] Washburn University, AI Literacy and Application Certificate, [website], [date of publication] [4] Carleton College and University of Central Florida, Critical AI Literacy Curricula, [website], [date of publication]
Artificial-intelligence (AI) fluency is being institutionalized across education and self-development institutions, with undergraduates at Ohio State University now required to complete AI training. The goal is personal-growth, making every graduate proficient in AI concepts and able to apply AI to enhance their respective fields of study.
In addition, human-centered AI literacy frameworks, like the one developed by the Digital Education Council, are being adopted. These frameworks prioritize foundational AI competencies alongside critical human skills, ensuring students gain a well-rounded understanding of AI and its societal impacts.
