Presenting the results of your AI project at the UNC Cause Annual Conference
A few months after we finished the project, we were asked to appear as guest speakers at UNC. UNC is an annual conference that brings together IT staff from 17 UNC Systems Schools and other institutions of higher education institutions in the state. During the opening presentations for CDW and Dell Technologies, we discussed the perspectives of AI students and discussed projects, personal experiences in AI, workforce preparation, and personalized learning.
Presentations at UNC will degrade interest in content from multiple universities and partner companies such as Apple. We quickly realized that what people are most interested in is the research data for our projects. Participants wanted to hear more about the students' perspectives on AI.
Data shows that students feel unprepared to use AI in the workplace
I created a second presentation on a chart showing student responses and presented it four times to CDW leadership, fellow interns and guest speakers at Apple AI Webinar.
Discover: Generation AI is entrenching higher education.
This presentation demonstrated the common sentiment shared by students across the country. Our results showed that over 90% of the students surveyed had some degree of awareness about AI and its functions.
When asked to select a comfortable program to assess AI knowledge, a third of students showed that they were familiar 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 university-assigned projects.
Despite students' exposure to AI outside the classroom, 65% of students said they had no opportunity to take AI-specific or AI-inclusive courses at the university. Only 3% of students were confident that education would help ensure work in areas in which AI is involved. It is clear that opportunities to promote AI education at the university level have room for growth.
learn more: How to develop AI usage policies on campus.
Increased AI delivery can affect student success and enrollment
The university has found itself in a position to continue expanding its AI. Giving students access to AI-related courses, workshops, clubs, or organizations will increase their AI proficiency. Students can refer to the AI education offered by the university when achieving professional goals, meet academic requirements and add relevant accreditations to their resumes. These AI resources prepare students further for successful employment and enable them to perform effectively when they land their post-graduation work.
Beyond these professional impacts, universities taking initiatives to integrate AI into their curriculum will greatly appeal to prospective students looking for a place to begin education and career preparation. This implementation allows universities to further ensure that students receive the skills they need to receive the superior skills in the classroom, effectively perform daily functions, and achieve success in the workforce.
next: Google Gemini can improve learning in higher education.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on February 3, 2025.
