Artificial intelligence and the role of the university in a digital age

By Lone Grønbæk Jørgensen, Head of Department of Economics and Centre Director of CPop

This year's management seminar is an important opportunity to take stock of our strategy and to exchange experiences across SDU.

This year, the theme was artificial intelligence, not just as a technology, but as a tool that will characterise our work with our core tasks in education, research and administration.

Several of us are already using AI to support our work, which opens up exciting perspectives, but it also places demands on accountability and quality assurance.

At the leadership seminar, we got inspiration from experienced AI users, including SDU researcher Anton Pottegård and José Bowen from the American Association of Colleges and Universities. Anton Pottegård shared his concrete experiences of how the technology can be used to strengthen our research practice, while José Bowen energetically presented a symphony of different AI tools. In addition, short videos from SDU colleagues showed the dilemmas we face in practice. It all provided both inspiration and a realistic look at the opportunities and challenges we face.

I particularly took away some thoughts from the use of AI in education. For example, how do we avoid students using AI as an informal tool without necessarily having the methodological understanding of their subject area. Our challenge as a university must be to systematically integrate AI skills into our programmes, teach students to use the technology responsibly and critically, and of course to maintain that AI should not replace professional skills, but expand them.

These ideas are closely linked to the question of the social legitimacy of the university in an age where knowledge is available everywhere. We need clear answers as to why young people still need a university education and what value an exam certificate has when AI can solve many tasks better and faster. One is almost tempted to say that the university's role as a curator of knowledge and education is at stake.

Personally, I believe that we as leaders have a special responsibility to create the framework for a wise and critical use of AI. We must trust the judgement of our researchers, lecturers and administrators in its use and provide the right tools.

I was inspired by both the concrete experiences and the energetic presentations, but also reminded that technology must not take control from us. We have to keep the direction ourselves. AI can be a powerful support, but only if we use it wisely and with our core tasks and values in mind.