From keynote insights to practice, this Smarter Futures webinar explored how higher education is responding to AI and highlighting a sector balancing opportunity with caution.
Our final Smarter Futures webinar, an exclusive Advance HE member benefit, brought together leading sector experts to examine how smarter systems and digital innovation can transform higher education. Titled “Smarter Systems: Automating Processes to Improve Staff and Student Experience,” the session explored how institutions can harness AI and emerging technologies to streamline operations, reduce inefficiencies and enable more strategic, data-informed decision-making.
The webinar featured a keynote from EdTech advisor, mentor and author Al Kingsley, who offered expert insight into the evolving role of technology in education. This was followed by an in-conversation discussion between Sam Saunders (University of Liverpool) and Jody Sailor (Instructure), sharing practical examples and real-world perspectives.
Part of the three-part Smarter Futures series, hosted by Dr Miri Firth (University of Manchester), the event highlighted how universities can evolve rapidly while maintaining quality, accessibility and improved experiences for staff and students in an increasingly complex digital environment today.
A sector in transition: from knowledge to skills
Al Kingsley’s keynote highlighted a fundamental shift reshaping both education and the workplace: the move from knowledge scarcity to knowledge abundance. As AI makes information instantly accessible, the value of simply acquiring knowledge is diminishing, while the importance of applying it through skills is rising. Employers are increasingly prioritising capabilities such as adaptability, communication and problem-solving, signalling a more inclusive definition of talent that extends beyond traditional academic achievement.
Power skills in an AI-driven world
Central to this shift is the growing importance of so-called “soft skills” which Kingsley reframed as “power skills.” As AI takes on routine, repeatable tasks, human qualities like creativity, resilience, leadership and self-awareness become more critical. Rather than replacing people, AI is augmenting human capability, enabling individuals to be more productive and effective in complex, people-centred roles. This evolution also challenges established notions of success, opening new pathways for diverse learners to thrive.
Rethinking systems and assessment
Kingsley argued that real transformation requires more than adopting AI tools; it demands a rethinking of systems, assessment and design. He called for a move away from traditional exams towards continuous, skills-based evaluation supported by AI, alongside integrated systems that combine technology, governance and professional development. Crucially, he emphasised that AI must remain human-centred, with strong leadership, clear strategy and ethical oversight ensuring that innovation enhances, not diminishes, the human experience.
From strategy to practice: AI in action
Sam Saunders and Jody Sailor’s discussion focused on how AI is being implemented in higher education in practical, cautious and evolving ways. Rather than transforming teaching itself, institutions are primarily using AI to automate processes around learning, such as administration, timetabling, responding to routine queries and supporting assessment design. This reflects a deliberate boundary: AI is used to reduce workload and friction, while core academic decisions, particularly grading and academic judgment, remain firmly human-led.
Creating time for what matters most
A key benefit emerging from this approach is the creation of time and capacity for staff. By streamlining planning, content creation and aspects of student support, AI is enabling more personalised learning experiences at scale. However, both speakers emphasised that efficiency alone is not the goal; any use of AI must ultimately enhance the experience of staff and students, freeing educators to focus on teaching, mentoring and meaningful engagement rather than administrative tasks.
From tools to ecosystems
Looking ahead, they highlighted a shift from isolated tools to more integrated AI ecosystems, alongside the growing importance of AI literacy for both staff and students. Effective adoption depends on understanding how AI works, its limitations and how to use it responsibly.
Keeping humans at the centre
Throughout, they stressed that AI should operate as a partnership rather than a replacement, with human oversight evolving into active collaboration. This makes ethics, trust and sustainability central considerations, as institutions move from experimentation towards more strategic, joined-up and responsible implementation at scale.
