Foreign Languages Centre

*Higher Education in an AI-Driven World: Project-Based Learning as a Gateway to Real-Life Educational Experiences

Artificial intelligence has dominated academic discussions for the last two years. Tools like ChatGPT, DALL-E and Sora can generate texts, images and video with often astonishing accuracy. Long texts can be summarised instantly in almost any language, reports and scientific articles can be generated including references (though not always real ones), convincing videos can be created and we are already seeing AI-generated music and creative writing being readily available on various platforms. AI’s capacity for analysing enormous amounts of data is however making positive breakthroughs in medical research and in engineering to name but two important fields. Unfortunately, AI is maybe not as intelligent as the tech companies would like us to believe. Some experts are extremely concerned that it is being used to spread dangerous disinformation and often has hidden biases.

Students are using AI tools to generate essays and reports that are becoming extremely difficult for teachers to detect. Instead of reading a long textbook you can instantly get a short summary using an AI tool. When “answers” are so readily available how do we promote vital skills like deep reading and even the messy process of learning? Digital literacy and source criticism have become more vital than ever in a world where you simply cannot believe your eyes or ears anymore.

With artificial intelligence reshaping industries and redefining the skills needed for success at an unprecedented pace, higher education faces a monumental challenge: how to prepare students for a world dominated by rapidly changing technology – technology that is completely altering the current status quo. Project-Based Learning (PBL) offers students a simple yet powerful solution – a learning experience that immerses them in real-world tasks mirroring the intricacies of modern life. This approach emphasizes critical thinking, collaboration, and innovation – qualities that AI cannot easily replicate, at least not yet. By engaging with hands-on, problem-solving experiences, students develop the adaptability and creativity essential for thriving in an AI-dominated future.

In this year’s International Staff Training Week (ISTW) we will discuss these issues and give you a chance to meet teachers,  researchers and practitioners who are working with the role of pedagogy, information literacy and project-based learning in a world that is increasingly driven by AI.