University education should provide a solid foundation in key areas to enable graduates to adapt to technological changes throughout their professional careers. This includes constantly innovating, training professionals prepared for future technological challenges, and utilizing technology to enhance the internal functioning of universities.
Dr. Tony Chan, former Rector of King Abdullah University of Science & Technology and a prominent mathematician, emphasizes the importance of leading universities adapting to technological innovation from three fronts: technology production, student education, and internal management. During a conference at Tecnológico de Monterrey, he stressed the responsibility of research universities to be at the forefront of technology and to educate students to understand, use, and improve new tools.
The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) is essential in the educational field, leading universities to not only teach about AI in their programs but also to incorporate it into the teaching of other disciplines. The academic highlights the need for students to acquire skills in mathematics, statistics, physics, and computer science to understand and develop new technologies, along with aspects of business, ethics, and digital security.
In an increasingly technology-driven world, it is essential to combine the development of technical knowledge with an inspiring education that prepares students for a constantly evolving environment. A significant challenge is the integration of AI into tasks and exams without fostering academic dishonesty. Dr. Tony Chan highlights the need to establish clear rules and mechanisms to ensure transparency and ethics in its application, leveraging new possibilities such as hybrid education accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
