CreaTeME at WLS 2024: Exploring the Impact of AI on Higher Education on WLS 2024
Exploring the Impact of AI on Higher Education on WLS 2024
The introduction of OpenAI’s ChatGPT and similar AI platforms in 2023 marked a pivotal moment in education. Institutions worldwide are grappling with how these advancements shape teaching, learning, and collaboration. Some embrace AI as a tool for innovation, while others tread cautiously, wary of its implications. This duality underscores the importance of forums like the World Learning Summits (WLS), which this year tackles the multifaceted challenges posed by AI.
Individual and Collective Approaches to AI in Education
As educators, the challenge is twofold: understanding AI’s capabilities and integrating it responsibly. Individually, educators must develop AI literacy, recognizing both the opportunities and risks AI presents. From streamlining administrative tasks to enhancing personalized learning experiences, AI offers immense potential. However, it also demands vigilance regarding ethical considerations, such as data privacy and the risk of amplifying biases.
At the departmental and institutional levels, the focus shifts to collaboration.
Faculties must foster interdisciplinary dialogue, creating spaces where educators, technologists, and policymakers converge to develop cohesive strategies. Centers like the Future Learning Lab at the University of Agder exemplify this approach, emphasizing the intersection of education, technology, and globalization.
AI and Broader Collaborations
AI’s implications extend beyond academia, influencing partnerships with industries, NGOs, and civil society. Universities must adapt to these transformations, aligning curricula with industry needs while advocating for ethical AI use. For instance, in creative arts and music—a sector deeply entwined with performance and innovation—AI can both democratize access to tools and challenge traditional notions of artistry. The presence of music and creative arts experts at WLS 2024 highlights the sector’s unique insights into navigating AI’s dual nature.
WLS 2024: Bridging Disciplines and Perspectives
Now in its 14th year, WLS continues its mission to bridge academic disciplines and connect academia with professional practice. This year’s summit, held in collaboration with the University of Dubrovnik, underscores the need for cross-disciplinary thinking. The event features diverse panels and keynotes, addressing topics from AI’s role in music to its impact on journalism and the humanities.
Key highlights include:
Martin Clancy’s keynote on AI in music and creative arts, offering lessons from a field at the forefront of AI adoption.
Panel discussions on disrupted journalism and education, exploring how AI reshapes the media landscape.
Sessions on interdisciplinarity, with contributions from experts like Keith Negus and Ragnhild Brøvig, examining how AI challenges traditional academic silos.
Looking Ahead: Cultivating Collaborative Responses
As WLS participants reflect on two days of rich discussions, a recurring theme is the need for universities to serve as hubs of innovation and ethical leadership. AI’s disruptive potential calls for proactive strategies that prioritize equity, inclusivity, and collaboration. By fostering dialogue among educators, professionals, and civil society stakeholders, events like WLS help lay the groundwork for a future where AI complements rather than disrupts human creativity and knowledge.
In 2024, the summit gains additional momentum through partnerships with CreaTeME, a Center of Excellence in Music Education, and the University of Dubrovnik. This collaborative spirit, central to WLS’s ethos, ensures that as AI continues to evolve, higher education remains a space for critical inquiry and shared progress.
Photo by CreaTeME-team