A Guide to embracing the future: Artificial Intelligence in career centres Part 3

AI is here to stay, but how institutions and their students utilise it will differ. AI can be used as a tool, not as a replacement. In part one and part two of our series, we’ve explored what Chat GPT is and how it is used. In part three, we now explore the next steps institutions can take to work in tandem with AI.

Some recommendations at a staff level:

1. Research and Review: Institutions ought to review the relevant career services solutions available in the market and request for information with regards to their incorporation of AI technology. Most leading edtech providers such as Symplicity Corporation already feature components of AI in their product offering. As products and platforms constantly evolve this exercise ought to be ongoing.
2. Training and Enablement: Leadership should ensure adequate training is provided to university staff to understand how these tools can enhance their service offering but at the same be able to critically evaluate their output.
3. Critical thinking: Assess and evaluate which processes ought to be automated further and which should remain personalised with direct contact between the student and the advisor.

At a student level:

1. Awareness: Students should be made aware that their institution is constantly striving to improve their service offering towards them. Investments are made in technology as part of this where applicable. Students should expect to receive a more enriched service powered by AI.
2. Maintain the personal service approach where and when requested by students to avoid alienation and disconnect from the university services teams.
3. Feedback: Regularly request feedback from students regarding the service offering and adapt accordingly.

While critical thinking and creativity have not yet been replaced by AI tools, top vendors within the EdTech sector have begun to invest in enriching their offerings and find innovative ways to utilize AI.

According to University Business the edtech market is set to reach 1 trillion USD by 2030 that is approximately 18 percent of annual growth and the main drivers for this growth is AI related learning programs and integration tools. Edx explains that 80 percent of searches for content on their platform is related to AI.

In this series we focused more on the positive aspects of AI resources and tools, however there are certain challenges and criticisms.

The extensive use of AI by students for research and decision making may hinder their creativity and use of critical thinking. In many instances, the information presented by AI tools may be inconsistent of incomplete. As the CEO of Open AI said: Chat GPT is a useful source of inspiration, but not the greatest source of real and verified data.

Although there is no one single approach in how AI should be incorporated in educational institutions, we are now seeing how it is forcing the traditional educational models to change and evolve.

Symplicity Corporation has applied components of machine learning and AI within its leading career services solution Symplicity CSM used by more than 1,500 universities across 37 countries. CSM tailors the student user experience based on their preferences, their behaviour while using the platform, what other students with similar profiles have applied to, and promotes jobs, events, and experiences based on these indicators. All this, while still allowing students run their own manual searches for opportunities and events.

With CSM, students have access to tailored pathways, can practice mock interviews and even access resources targeted to them. Once a student has identified what they are interested in, career advisors can be reached through the platform for career preparation counselling.

The platform has been one of the first solutions in the student employability arena to incorporate such features and is constantly evolving with additional features coming up in future releases. To find out more about Symplicity CSM and the exciting new features reach out to us here.

AI in student employability is rapidly evolving. Vendors are constantly assessing the market needs and adding features to their platforms while universities are changing their demands. A balanced approach is recommended given the first feedback from recruiters and regulation authorities.

If you are unsure of where to begin from or simply would like to receive some guidance about existing possibilities, email info@symplicity.com.

*Co-written by Helena Okolicsanyi