AI is transforming Indian higher education, enhancing teaching, research, and administration. Universities must adopt AI responsibly to lead globally in learning and innovation.
AI transforms Indian universities, enabling modern teaching, research, and administration while creating new academic roles (Photo: File)
Today, most universities handle a huge amount of data. They use it to manage student admissions, exam processes, academic records, degree checks, and official reports. Artificial Intelligence has become an essential component of the higher education system over the last few years. The 2024 Times Higher Education survey found that nearly 60% of university professors now use AI tools in their work. UNESCO recently said AI is “changing how teachers teach faster than any education reform in decades.” We should now ask: Will Indian universities watch this change happen, or will they help shape the future of AI-enabled education nationwide?
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 seeks to expand access, strengthen research, support internationalisation, and create world-class institutions. However, we can achieve these goals only when our universities and colleges prepare for AI-integrated academic work. Those who adapt will thrive. Those who resist will fall behind.
Teaching Is Being Redesigned
There is a misconception that AI threatens the role of teachers. In fact, global research shows the opposite. Teachers are becoming more essential because learning requires human guidance, judgment, and academic purpose. AI can process information. AI cannot help students in character building, curiosity, or critical thought. Teachers will continue to be the human interface to inspire students to acquire these values.
According to a study by the University of Melbourne, AI tools are increasingly impacting how instructors perform their jobs. Teachers spend more time now devising ways for students to learn through debates, discussions, and real-life problem-solving.
The most significant shift is happening in assessment. Universities worldwide are now introducing what academic researchers call “authentic assessments.” These include oral exams, reflective assignments, in-class problem-solving exercises, applied projects, and viva-style defences that test the originality of thinking. These assessments align with the recommendations of NEP 2020 on competency-based learning.
The teaching role is moving from content delivery to learning design. This shift has already given rise to new academic professions, including learning designers, curriculum architects, educational technologists, and specialists in AI-integrated pedagogy. These jobs will define higher education over the next decade.
Research Is Being Accelerated
Artificial Intelligence has brought dramatic efficiency to research. Literature reviews that once took weeks to complete now take only hours using AI search tools. Research trend mapping, citation clustering, translation of academic papers, and data visualisation are all accelerating. In a 2024 report, the Nature Publishing Group described AI as “a powerful assistant that can analyse at scale, but must be guided by human judgement.”
AI is also reshaping academic collaboration. Researchers now utilise AI to work in interdisciplinary areas, drawing on ideas from computer science, social sciences, environmental science, and healthcare to tackle complex problems. This trend strengthens NEP 2020’s call for multidisciplinary research in India.
AI cannot replace researchers. But it can assist researchers in powerful ways. Tools now generate draft abstracts, suggest experimental designs, check statistical accuracy, and detect contradictory citations. How will we ensure that such opportunities are founded on responsible AI use? Teachers should be trained to identify bias in AI-generated work. They must internalise that accountability, ethical use of tools, and verification of AI-generated outputs are intrinsic to AI usage in research work.
Grant writing is changing as well. UGC has asked all the universities to establish R&D cells on their campuses. These R&D cells can utilise AI systems to search for funding announcements, match them to faculty strengths, and encourage faculty to prepare project proposals. Many promising researchers struggle not due to a lack of ideas but due to limited proposal-writing support. AI can level that field if used responsibly.
University Administration Is Becoming Intelligent
AI is also transforming university administration. Today, most universities handle a huge amount of data. They use it to manage student admissions, exam processes, academic records, degree checks, and official reports. A 2023 study of higher education administration worldwide found that “AI and automation reduce clerical burden and allow staff to shift from data processing to student support.” Universities need skilled people who can take care of research and student data, check that AI systems work fairly, and make sure technology helps students in a personal and friendly way.
As AI is increasingly adopted in teaching, research, and testing, protecting the integrity of their work should be the top priority of universities. The governance framework, too, should become more responsible. Universities must create trust among students that their records are secure, assessments are fair, and AI tools do not misuse their data.
The AI Era Is Creating New Academic Jobs
AI has become a breeding ground for new career paths. Three types of roles are growing in universities worldwide. One area is teaching innovation. In these roles, experts should help teachers combine AI tools with learning design. In the research domain, engineers in computer service centres of the universities must perform new roles to manage data and AI-assisted research. Those who are in governance roles of an institution should have skills to ensure the responsible use of AI.
Faculty members, too, must step into new roles. They must acquire instruction, validation, and supervision skills using AI. Universities that train their workforce in these abilities will build future-ready campuses.
Why India Must Move Now
Considering the recent successes in implementing large-scale mission-mode schemes such as the launching of Swadeshi 4G networks, India has the potential to emerge as a global leader in AI-enabled education. With one of the world’s largest networks of universities and millions of young learners, India can develop a higher education system that integrates technology without compromising its human purpose.
If Indian universities act early, they can attract students from across the world who seek modern learning environments at an affordable cost. India can become a world leader in education if it leverages its strong academic system, modern technology, and provides everyone with a fair chance to learn. Countries that utilise Artificial Intelligence wisely in education will lead the future of higher learning. India has the opportunity to shape that future. The time to act is now.
Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, Former Chairman, UGC and Former Vice-chancellor, JNU. (Views are personal.)
