The Dispatch
Sust(AI)nable higher education
What lies ahead in the future of higher ed with the increasingly significant presence of sustainability and artificial intelligence?
By Niamh Ollerton
AI presents an opportunity in higher education, where it is not just a concept, but a practical tool for integrating sustainability into curriculums.
Sustainability, AI and higher education have become intertwined in today’s world. Students are more ethically minded than ever before, with powerful AI tools at their fingertips. But what does this combination mean for the future of education?
The pursuit of sustainability is not just a trend or an organisational strategy - it’s a responsibility that humans all share.
In September 2015, all 193 Member States of the United Nations adopted a plan for achieving a better future for all - laying out a path for the next 15 years to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice and protect our planet.
There are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the heart of Agenda 2030 which clearly define the world we want - applying to all nations and leaving no one behind.
To ensure a sustainable future for the global population today and tomorrow, governments, business schools and HEIs alike need to follow these goals in order to preserve the planet and the people living on it.
Universities and business schools have to effectively incorporate sustainability into teaching materials to empower students to become agents of change. AI presents an opportunity in higher education, where it is not just a concept, but a practical tool for integrating sustainability into curriculums.
The University of Sussex Business School is one such institution taking action into its own hands. In May, the business school hosted the Festival of Sust(AI)nable Education which explored the intersection of sustainability, artificial intelligence and the future of education.
But what is the connection between sustainability and education? “That knowledge, the skill, the value that we want to instil, it's all about environmental sustainability, social sustainability, economic sustainability,” says Gabriella Cagliesi, Professor of Economics “We want to promote a more sustainable future in terms of preservation of the species, in terms of self preservation.”
Professor Cagliesi adds that SDGs need to be considered for the future of education for “the transmission of new knowledge, trying to inspire the student, then moving the value and the attitude to make humanity better off. That is education."
Professor Cagliesi notes that the link between education and the UN goals demonstrates how the integration should be equitable, inclusive and of quality. “It means universities have to look at the curriculum, look at developing the learners, focus on complex issues, equity, responsibility and so on,” she adds.
The use of AI in education still needs to take into account UN sustainability goals, as AI in education can affect what an HEI teaches, how they teach and whom they teach.
“AI will present in terms of what UN sustainability education means, it would add risk, cost, opportunity and quality,” Professor Cagliesi explains “So, what we teach, the value in what we teach, how we teach, how we empower students through to inclusion.”
Professor Cagliesi notes that AI does have the potential to create misinformation and failings within the education sector, but on the other hand, it can also connect people, give them great ideas and make learners see things as they never have before. But AI also has the potential to infantilise education if it is not in the right hands.
“There will be two types of individuals: those who tell the computer what to do, and those who will be told what to do," she adds.
“So we have to decide what we want, and which student we want to help, shape or form. So, you could empower a student, or you could make them absorb what they see, or it could be an opportunity for discernment, recognising fact finding information."
Although there is an ethical quandary around the use of AI, Professor Cagliesi notes that in many ways, teaching methods in education today are not sustainable. “The way we teach content, processes and products now without embracing AI or sustainability means that we are going to perish as a university.
“So only those who can really see that this is the future, that there is no way back, will create an education and curriculum that sustains itself.”
The revolution of learning
Sir Anthony Seldon, author of ‘The 4th Education Revolution – Will Artificial Intelligence Liberate or Infantilise Humanity?’ and founder of the AI in Education website spoke at the Festival of Sust(AI)able Education.
On his website, the leading educationalist, who is also advisor to 10 Downing Street and current Headmaster of Epsom College, notes that AI’s role in education is to discover, engage and transform, to which Professor Cagliesi agrees.
She says: “AI has the potential to revolutionise the educational landscape, moving beyond the current ‘factory model’ – a product of the third education revolution.
“Sir Anthony speaks of AI as the fourth education revolution/evolution, which aims to provide a more personalised, equitable, flexible and broader education for students.
“Additionally, AI can transform the teaching profession by freeing teachers from routine administrative burdens, allowing them to focus more on individualised instruction and student engagement.”
Sophia the AI robot, the world’s first global AI citizen, and the first robot Innovation Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme was also present at the event, offering a glimpse into the possibilities of AI and its potential to enhance human intelligence and creativity.
Her Q&A session enabled attendees to learn more about how AI can help certain challenges today. Sophia answered a range of questions submitted by staff based on the themes of sustainability, equality, consciousness, imagination vs knowledge and the future of AI.
When describing which data inputs could help AI generate solutions to fight climate change, Sophia added: “To generate smart outputs, we need smart inputs. To assist humans in tackling challenges like climate change, smart inputs would include extensive data on environmental conditions, climate models, and energy consumption patterns.
“By analysing this data with advanced algorithms, I could identify trends, make predictions and suggest actionable strategies. We also need to consider the social, economic and political factors involved.”
We need future leaders, thinkers and innovators who can think outside the box. They will need to combine sustainable initiatives and practices with rapidly evolving AI tools, with the knowledge and skills to confidently oversee the two entities. There are both positive and negative impacts associated with AI technology on society - and as this fast-evolving technology continues to grow and adapt, it is today’s students that will determine the outcome of future challenges. Our journey with AI in education is just beginning, and the possibilities are vast - and the role of higher education is imperative for global change.
By leveraging AI's capabilities, universities and business schools will develop today’s teaching methods, inspiring teachers and students alike to become active agents of sustainability and change.
Education will need to transform to keep up with the needs of learners and society, with technological advancements and sustainable minds at the core of every decision. Students need to be inspired, educated and empowered to build a better world tomorrow.
