There’s the ability to use predictive analytics to support student success while streamlining advising and course planning. The ability to integrate new platforms into efforts to enhance students’ job readiness through personalized resume feedback and interview preparation. The ability to improve equity by delivering targeted resources in real time to struggling students.
Kean University President Lamont Repollet is eager to discuss all the ways his school is helping its students – through the use of AI initiatives.
Repollet, giving a keynote address this week at prestigious International Association of University Presidents 2024 Conference in Beijing, China highlighting the transformative power of artificial intelligence to advance equity and support student success in higher education worldwide.
“AI has the power to help close achievement gaps and ensure that every student, no matter their challenges, has access to high-quality educational resources,” Repollet said. “By offering personalized learning experiences, AI empowers historically marginalized students with the tools they need to succeed.”
He cited AI’s potential to eliminate bias in grading and admissions processes, ensuring that all students – regardless of background – receive fair and equitable treatment.
And while the possibilities seemingly are endless, Repollet emphasized that should not be used without guardrails. He stressed the need for careful oversight as institutions integrate AI, noting that technology should not perpetuate biases or widen the digital divide.
Kean, he said, focuses on using AI ethically and effectively, ensuring data privacy and digital equity remain priorities.
Kean and Repollet are familiar faces in China.
Repollet also is the president of the Wenzhou-Kean campus, which serves nearly 5,000 students from Asia and beyond.
Repollet said the school exemplifies the power of global partnerships to elevate academic opportunities. But it’s not the only way to partner.
Looking to the future, Repollet challenged international leaders to embrace AI as a bridge connecting institutions and students around the globe. He envisioned a world where students in different countries collaborate seamlessly using AI-powered tools to overcome language barriers and time zone differences.
“At Kean and Wenzhou-Kean, we are preparing students for a future where learning is borderless,” Repollet said. “AI offers us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a truly global education community – one that promotes equity and empowers students to achieve their dreams.”
The 20th Annual IAUP conference drew university leaders and educators from around the world to discuss emerging trends and challenges in higher education. This year’s theme, “AI and the Future of Higher Education,” offered participants a platform to explore AI’s potential impact on teaching, research and student outcomes.
The conference also featured prominent speakers from top global institutions, including Prof. Michael Levitt, a 2013 Nobel Laureate, and Prof. Zongkai Yang, president of Wuhan University of Technology.
