Is higher education ready for the impact of generative AI?

The implications of artificial intelligence (AI) on higher education will be far-reaching and profound. Certainly, there’s been hand-wringing about how AI integration will impact all that a university does, from recruitment to admissions to teaching and assessments. The challenges that lie ahead go far beyond understanding how to use AI itself; Institutions will need to think about how its use will impact broader aspects of the education experience, such as curriculum design, ethical considerations, and readying students for evolving job market demands. 

So how can the sector best prepare?

Generative AI, such as ChatGPT, is already transforming education. At the Duolingo English Test (DET), we know first-hand how powerful a force it can be. For several years, we have been using GPT-3 and now GPT-4 in our test design process. Now that the public has greater access to the tool, we set out to explore its impact on higher education, and specifically on the admission process.

The stakes are high

Universities must navigate uncharted territory to proactively engage with AI's potential in order to fully participate in today’s rapidly evolving technological era. By embracing AI's possibilities while maintaining a thoughtful and ethical approach, universities can effectively position themselves at the forefront of this transformative wave.

Though it’s too early to tell just how AI will shape the industry, in May 2023 the DET held an exploratory conversation with an expert panel to begin fleshing out possible scenarios. With specialties across a wide range of areas, the panelists provided a variety of insights on how the future might unfold.

Through discussions with the panel and the global higher education professionals in the audience, one thing became clear: As AI becomes increasingly mainstream in higher education, university administrators in recruitment and admissions will be on the front line of change. Those involved should carefully consider the benefits and risks of AI and develop best practices to ensure that these technologies are used in a fair and responsible manner.

Authenticity concerns are not new

One concern that emerged from the conversation was prospective students using ChatGPT to write their college application essays. At the heart of the matter was the question of authenticity in the admissions process–that is, will the materials students submit as part of their application genuinely reflect their voices and abilities?

However, authenticity concerns are not new. Privileged applicants’ admission writing has long benefitted from the support of well-educated parents and knowledgeable counselors, consultants, or agents. While the well-intentioned aim to help the student find their voice and present their best selves, that element can often be lost in the numerous rounds of brainstorming, drafting, editing, and revision processes. So, the question is whether the same processes and standards used in the past to gauge “authenticity”  in student applications will still apply as AI’s impact takes hold.

Beyond applications, it’s important to take steps to initiate changes at your university, and help steward your campus into the age of AI.

Start this summer

Issues concerning authenticity may be familiar, but what will be new are the questions students will pose when they visit university campuses. This summer, admissions officers can anticipate being bombarded with new questions about AI, such as:

“How will my university experience be different as a result of AI?”, “How are professors using AI to teach?” and “Can I use AI in my admission application?”. 

Admission officers must ask themselves whether access to ChatGPT—which is equipped to provide support for the writing process that was traditionally provided by humans—levels the playing field for applicants that do not have access to these personalized services?  Does this tool democratize the application process? Or will it favor those who best-understand how to use technology—a new form of privilege?

Need help getting started? 

Try this exercise. 

Put yourself in your prospective students’ shoes. Using the prompt engineering steps outlined below, put your college essay topic into ChatGPT.  

1. Act as a (Role) - Act as a prospective student. 
2. Create a (task) - Create a personal essay for college admission. Be specific in your ask and what you would like for the output to include.  
3. Show as a (format) - Stipulate word count and essay structure.
4. Refine the output - Ask for revisions to length, tone, details, etc. 

Tell us your thoughts  

As the sector begins to integrate AI into administrative and academic processes, it's important to share experiences. Only until we understand the challenges and opportunities that arise from this undertaking can we segue towards deeper dialogues around ethics, privacy and access.

So, let’s start talking!

What types of conversation is your campus having around AI? Who is involved in the discussions? How will the use of AI in academic assessments, including the admission process, be evaluated? How will you communicate your policy to applicants and students?