Presenting Results of AI Project at the UNC Cause Annual Conference
A couple of months after finishing our project, we were asked to appear as guest speakers at UNC, an annual conference that brings together IT staff from the 17 UNC System schools and other higher ed institutions in the state. In our opening presentations for CDW and Dell Technologies, we spoke about the student perspective on AI, and discussed our project, our personal experiences with AI, workforce preparation and personalized learning.
Our presentation at UNC CAUSE stirred interest in our content from multiple universities as well as partner companies such as Apple. We quickly realized that what people were most interested in was the survey data from our project. Attendees were eager to hear more about students’ perspectives on AI.
Data Shows Students Do Not Feel Prepared to Use AI in the Workplace
We created a second presentation with charts to display our student responses and have presented that on four occasions to CDW leadership, our fellow interns and as guest speakers at an Apple AI webinar.
DISCOVER: Generative AI is taking hold in higher education.
In this presentation, we demonstrated the common sentiments shared by students across the country. Our results showed that more than 90% of students surveyed had some level of awareness of AI and its functionality.
When asked to evaluate their AI knowledge by selecting programs they felt comfortable with, one-third of students indicated familiarity with commonly used AI tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini. These tools are often used by students when completing homework, in-class activities or projects assigned by their university.
Despite students’ exposure to AI outside of the classroom, 65% of students responded that they had not had the opportunity to take an AI-specific or AI-inclusive course at their university. Only 3% of students felt very confident that their education would help them secure a job in a field involving AI. It is evident that the opportunity for furthering AI education at the university level has room to grow.
LEARN MORE: How to develop an AI use policy on your campus.
Increasing AI Offerings Can Impact Student Success and Enrollment
Universities find themselves in a position to continue their AI expansion. Giving students access to AI-related courses, workshops, clubs or organizations will increase their AI proficiency. Students will be able to showcase their university-provided AI education when they achieve professional goals, satisfy academic requirements and add relevant certifications to their résumés. These AI resources will further prepare students for success in finding employment and allow them to perform effectively when they land that post-graduation job.
Beyond these professional impacts, universities taking the initiative to integrate AI into their curriculum will greatly appeal to prospective students looking for a place to kick-start their education and career preparedness. With this implementation, universities can further ensure students are receiving the skills needed to excel in the classroom, perform daily functions effectively and achieve success in the workforce.
UP NEXT: Google Gemini can improve learning in higher education.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published Feb. 3, 2025.
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