A New Phase of AI Adoption in Higher Education – What Internet2 Industry Members Need to Know 

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve, the research and higher education (R&E) community adapts to the changing landscape and its potential. From enhancing student success and streamlining administrative operations to advancing research capabilities, AI adoption is increasingly integral in higher education. 

To understand how the R&E community approaches AI, the Center for Digital Education, in collaboration with Internet2, surveyed over 100 higher education IT leaders and decision-makers representing a broad cross-section of institutions.

This survey and report, the second in the AI series, Higher Ed Enters a New Phase of AI Adoption, (opens in a new window) offer valuable insights into the growing readiness of AI adoption across use cases. While AI tools are now widespread, the findings highlight the need for higher education institutions to build internal capacity to take full advantage of AI’s potential. Key insights from the survey and this report are available exclusively to Internet2 members.

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Divide in AI Use Cases

There is an overwhelming general interest in generative AI tools. From plagiarism detection to chatbots and predictive analysis, higher education institutions are already utilizing AI. Doctoral institutions are leading the way, with over half of respondents adopting advanced AI technologies like large language models (LLMs) and data analysis compared to other higher education institutions.

Strategic Planning and Budgeting for AI integration

A key takeaway from the results is the increasing involvement of AI in higher education strategic planning. While more than half of respondents in leadership roles reported that AI tools are now a key consideration during institutional budgeting and planning, fewer institutions are focused on integrating AI into developing a comprehensive roadmap.

Funding and Investment Challenges 

Funding remains a significant barrier to AI implementation in higher education. Although nearly all survey respondents reported allocating funds for AI, these investments are made towards pilot programs and limited deployments primarily from central IT budgets. Higher education institutions are also looking to new sources of funding including grants and partnerships to support their initiatives.

Need for Governance and Capacity Planning 

As AI adoption grows, institutions are recognizing the need for capacity building in training of faculty and students, AI governance and strategic planning. The results reveal a need for higher education to develop stronger governance structures to guide AI investments to increase. AI technology partners and Internet2 industry members play a pivotal role in helping higher education institutions move from pilots towards more comprehensive applications and full scale adoption.

Are you ready for a deeper dive in AI? Internet2 Member Access to the Full Report (opens in a new window) Internet2 members have exclusive access to the full market research white paper, second in the series Higher Ed Enters a New Phase of AI Adoption (opens in a new window), by the Center for Digital Education. It offers detailed insights and strategies for helping higher education institutions build capacity for AI. Request your copy today to gain a deeper understanding of how AI is transforming the R&E community.

About the Survey:

To understand how higher education is addressing AI readiness and implementation, the Center for Digital Education, in collaboration with Internet2, surveyed 110 higher education leaders in March 2024. Educators represented the largest proportion of respondents (45%), followed by IT and non-IT leadership (25%) and administrative staff (9%). Respondents also represented a broad range of institutions, including public universities and colleges (56%), community colleges (21%), and private universities and colleges (20%). Two-thirds (66%) of respondents were affiliated with Internet2 member higher education institutions.