Development Monthly | #33 July 2024 | HE Horizon: Transforming Tomorrow’s HE: Sustaining EDI in the Age of AI
Author’s Note: In this article Danny Mirza presents a hypothetical scenario featuring Dr Emma ‘Techtastic’, a fictional character. Whilst the AI tools mentioned are real, their specific applications in this narrative are speculative and meant to illustrate potential uses in higher education leadership.
Note: All images are made using Dall-E 3
As we celebrate AI Appreciation Day this July, let’s take a journey through a typical day of Dr Emma ‘Techtastic’, the AI-savvy Senior Leader of Innovate University. Her story illustrates how artificial intelligence is revolutionising leadershipin higher education, enhancing decision-making, and transforming institutional operations.
6:30 AM: “Rise and Shine with AI”
Dr Techtastic’s day begins with a personalised news briefing generated by Perplexity AI. She’s specifically asked it to focus on the latest developments in AI-enhanced distance learning programmes, as Innovate University is planning to expand its online offerings.
AI tool: Perplexity AI for intelligent information retrieval and summarisation
8:00 AM: “Breakfast with Data”
Over breakfast, Emma uses GitHub Copilot within Microsoft Power BI to create a dashboard tracking the success rates of the university’s recent widening participation initiatives. She asks for a visualisation comparing the retention rates of students from underrepresented backgrounds against overall student retention.
AI tool: GitHub Copilot integrated with Microsoft Power BI for natural language dashboard creation
9:15 AM: “The Smart Commute”
During her commute, Emma uses the built-in AI features of iOS 18 on her iPhone or Google Gemini for Android Phones to practise her opening remarks for an upcoming board meeting. She’s specifically working on her pitch for a new £50 million research centre focused on sustainable technologies.
AI tool: iOS 18’s built-in AI features for speech analysis and feedback
10:00 AM: “Meeting of the Minds (and Machines)”
Emma leads a strategy meeting with her leadership team to discuss the university’s carbon neutrality goals. They use Otter.ai to transcribe the conversation and track action items as they brainstorm initiatives to reduce the university’s carbon footprint by 50% over the next five years.
AI tool: Otter.ai for transcription and meeting insights
11:30 AM: “Crystal Ball Budgeting”
Emma meets with a colleague to discuss budget scenarios for the new academic year. They use a custom GPT created on ChatGPT to model the financial impact of increasing postgraduate scholarships by 25%, considering variables like potential increases in international student enrolment and research output.
AI tool: Custom GPT on ChatGPT platform, tailored for university budgeting
1:00 PM: “Lunch and Learn”
Over lunch, Emma uses Hyperwrite’s AI agent feature to research the latest best practices in creating mental health support systems for university students. The AI compiles an Excel sheet of the most innovative programmes implemented by universities globally.
AI tool: Hyperwrite AI agent for automated research and data compilation
2:30 PM: “Branding Brainstorm”
Emma works with the marketing team on rebranding the university’s student services department. Using DALL-E 3 through ChatGPT, they generate visual concepts for transforming “Student Services” into “Student Futures Hub”, aiming to reflect a more holistic, career-focused approach to student support.
AI tool: DALL-E 3 via ChatGPT for AI-generated visual content or ideogram
4:00 PM: “Data-Driven Decisions”
Emma reviews proposals for a new interdisciplinary research initiative on AI ethics. She uses Claude’s artefact feature to analyse each proposal, creating an infographic that compares the potential societal impact, funding requirements, and alignment with the university’s strategic goals for each project.
AI tool: Claude’s artefact feature for document analysis and infographic creation
5:00 PM: “The AI Ghostwriter”
As the workday winds down, Emma begins drafting an opinion piece on the role of universities in fostering ethical AI development. She collaborates with GPT-4, which helps her structure arguments around the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and the need for diverse perspectives in AI education.
AI tool: OpenAI’s GPT-4 for advanced language generation and analysis
6:00 PM: “University Jingle with AI”
At home, Emma and her family use Suno AI to create an original song for the university’s upcoming Careers event. They experiment with different lyrics highlighting the university’s careers guidance service and also set to an upbeat tune that captures the institution’s spirit.
AI tool: Suno AI for AI-powered music creation (AI Song for the event: Pathways to Success)
8:00 PM: “Reflecting and Sharing Knowledge”
Before bed, Emma reflects on how she’s used AI throughout the day. Inspired to share this knowledge, she uses Coassemble to start creating a training course titled “AI for Academic Leadership: Enhancing Decision-Making and Innovation”. The course aims to help department heads and senior administrators integrate AI tools into their daily workflows.
AI tool: Coassemble for creating interactive online training courses
As Dr Techtastic’s day demonstrates, AI has become an indispensable partner for forward-thinking leaders in higher education. From enhancing decision-making on critical issues like sustainability and student support to optimising time management and facilitating creative processes, AI tools are transforming every aspect of higher education leadership.
Emma’s proactive approach to AI adoption not only improves her own productivity but also sets an example for her entire organisation. By creating a training course to share her knowledge, she’s fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning within the university.
However, it’s crucial to remember that whilst these AI tools offer powerful capabilities, their effective use still relies on human wisdom, creativity, and ethical considerations. As we celebrate AI Appreciation Day, let’s recognise the potential of AI to augment and enhance leadership in higher education, always keeping in mind the importance of the human touch in guiding our institutions towards a brighter future.
The key takeaway from Dr Techtastic’s day is not just the variety of AI tools available, but how seamlessly they can be integrated into various aspects of leadership – from strategic planning and decision-making to creative processes and personal development.
As AI continues to evolve, leaders in higher education who embrace these tools will be better equipped to navigate the complexities of modern academia, drive innovation, and prepare their institutions for the challenges and opportunities of the future.
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