The rapid adoption of AI in higher education is significantly changing the way educators teach and students learn. Universities, administrators, and educators are looking to integrate AI into instruction and student workflows as quickly as possible in an ethical manner that supports increased creativity and productivity and improves student career readiness.
Adobe is committed to helping the higher education community navigate today’s AI crossroads. We want to build an ethical and safe AI-enhanced environment for teaching, learning, and academic inquiry. We believe that by responsibly incorporating generative AI into curriculum, Adobe and educators can work together to shape the future of learning and work beyond the classroom.
AI on campus
AI is widely used on university campuses. Our own research shows that 9 out of 10 students use AI in their lessons. Students regularly use AI writing tools (55 percent), chatbots (45 percent), research tools (40 percent), and reading and document summarization tools (33 percent). But they’re not entirely sure about it. 80% of college students surveyed are concerned that the generative AI tools they use in their courses will provide inaccurate or misleading information.
Of the 1,000 students surveyed, 77% are already considering their future after college, and also say their universities should offer AI skills classes to prepare them for a career.
A growing network of more than 133 Adobe Creative Campuses supports student learning and skill acquisition, improves faculty and administrator productivity, and leads organizational change. Creative Campus accomplishes this by integrating AI-powered Adobe applications into the workflows of teachers, administrators, and students. Tools like Adobe Acrobat Studio, Creative Cloud, and Acrobat AI Assistant fundamentally change the way teachers and students interact with documents, moving them beyond simple reading to deeper understanding, creative expression, content generation, and communication.
This approach is paying off. The integration of Creative Campus programs and Adobe applications resulted in high student participation rates (approximately 92%). Additionally, by using these applications and AI in their workflows, students feel that their coursework is aligned with their future career goals. That’s exactly right. Business leaders who are hiring say they prefer candidates with AI skills over candidates with no AI experience and strong resumes.
Bringing AI to educators, administrators, and institutions
Educators are recognizing the benefits of AI in higher education. According to the 2025 Creativity with AI in Education report, 85% of teachers believe generative AI will improve students’ creativity and creative thinking skills. But educators also want thoughtful integration and ethical use of generative AI into the curriculum. That means using AI built on responsible AI policies, not trained on student data, and providing verifiable output through clickable quotes.
However, while students are rapidly adopting AI, the rate of AI development is outpacing universities’ ability to implement clear policies and strategies. As a result, teachers are hesitant and require AI-assisted assistance in grading assignments and providing feedback. By the time they come up with policy, AI has already changed again.
We believe Adobe can help faculty manage the workload and disruption that comes with AI integration. Tools like Acrobat AI Assistant and PDF Spaces help faculty quickly gain deeper and more accurate insights from documents, automate daily tasks, and streamline workflows. For administrators, PDF Spaces enables the creation of a repository of departmental information, provides the ability to manipulate data at a higher level, and helps inform AI strategy and policy in real time.
For educators, these same tools support productivity by enabling efficient grading with AI-assisted rubrics, along with robust document management with streamlined editing, signing, and sharing. Adobe applications also help educators enrich their curriculum by integrating AI into creative projects and generally fostering deeper engagement and interdisciplinary learning. Finally, Adobe applications support educators’ own professional development by making it easier for them to explore innovative teaching methods and collaborate with their peers in the professional learning community.
prepare students for what happens next
According to our research, 61% of students cite the amount of reading (an average of more than 50 hours per month reading and preparing for study) as the biggest factor in burnout. Tools like Acrobat AI Assistant can help reduce work, stress, and student attrition. AI-powered Adobe applications are integrated into student learning and workflows to help students study and prepare for exams, summarize thick material, organize study guides, and clarify complex concepts. The software also supports accessibility and inclusive learning, allowing students to engage with course material in an efficient and interactive way, with practical output such as mobile-friendly and easily accessible PDFs.
We also want to encourage students to move beyond passive consumption to active creation that will equip them with the skills they need for future jobs and advanced academic pursuits. With Adobe Studio, Creative Cloud, and Adobe Express, students with no design experience can develop their creative thinking and create multimedia content using industry-standard applications.
These tools not only allow students to create and express their work, but also help students develop the AI and digital skills they need to be part of today’s workforce. Many students who used Adobe applications in the classroom found jobs within six months of graduating. Students who become proficient with Adobe applications are more successful in finding employment after graduation. In a recent survey we conducted with Edelman, 85 percent of students and 92 percent of early-career graduates agreed that creative tools like Adobe help build skills and experience for resumes and portfolios. Additionally, Creative Campus graduates report being hired faster, with business majors finding employment 15% faster than other students.
Partnership to accelerate the integration of AI into higher education
By working together, Adobe, universities, administrators, and educators can responsibly and ethically bring AI to campuses to transform learning and prepare students for the jobs of the future. We recognize that this partnership requires transparency and collaboration.
We look forward to working with institutions that are not yet part of the Creative Campus Network. Together, we can build the foundation of a future where creativity and career readiness are at the center, and where AI powers both teaching and learning.
For more information, please visit Creative Campus | Adobe for Education.
