Raffles University in Malaysia is set to pioneer a degree programme entirely taught and assessed by artificial intelligence (AI). This innovative programme, developed under the leadership of Professor Sasa Arsovski, Dean of the Faculty of AI and Robotics, utilizes a platform called MyAi Teaching Assistant.
Recognizing the rapid advancements in AI, Raffles University decided to leverage the MyAi Teaching Assistant platform to introduce the world’s first AI-taught degree programme. The AI Lecturer, described as capable of independent teaching, will provide students with a unique educational experience. The platform allows students to interact with AI instructor clones, facilitating an engaging and interactive learning journey. These AI clones encourage active participation and enable students to pause lessons for clarification when needed.
The programme's success relies on the expertise of human lecturers, whose knowledge and experience are distilled into PowerPoint presentations. These presentations form the basis of AI-designed lessons delivered to students. AI will also customize learning experiences for each student, assessing their understanding and creating personalized homework assignments based on interactions with the AI clone. This approach eliminates the need for manual grading, allowing educators to focus on quality student interactions.
The AI platform offers comprehensive data analytics for each student, enabling educators to refine teaching strategies and tailor their approach to individual needs. When questioned about the potential loss of the human touch in education, Associate Professor Greg Pritchard assured that the AI Lecturer uses a human avatar to simulate human interaction. He emphasized that real human academics would oversee and monitor these interactions.
Professor Arsovski has already utilized this AI platform to cover his classes during his absence, demonstrating its effectiveness. Raffles University plans to expand this AI teaching facility across most degree areas. Despite concerns that AI integration might reduce the need for professors, the university is confident that there will be no decline in hiring physical academic staff. “We are hiring more digital support staff, but we do not expect any reduction in physical academic staff. Students who can currently afford a physical learning experience will still come to the universities. What the AI-delivered degree does is open up the life-changing possibilities of gaining a degree to those who currently can’t afford a physical university”, Professor Pritchard explained.
The AI-taught programme is set to go live in October. Before its launch, Raffles University will apply for accreditation from the Malaysian Qualifications Agency next month. The degree programme will be offered as an Open Distance Learning (ODL) course, with the fee expected to be around $2,000.
This initiative places Raffles University at the forefront of educational innovation, demonstrating a commitment to integrating cutting-edge technology into academia. By offering an AI-taught programme, the university aims to provide a flexible, affordable, and high-quality education option for students worldwide. The use of AI in education promises to enhance learning experiences, making education more accessible and personalized.
