The North-West University (NWU) AI Hub recently visited the Mahikeng Campus, Potchefstroom Campus and Vanderbijlpark Campus for a series of artificial intelligence (AI) information session roadshows.

According to Prof Anné Verhoef, director of the AI Hub, these sessions provide some much-needed clarity about how the university is utilising this fast-evolving technology.

“We were surprised at how excited people were after the roadshows about AI. Our experience was that most people were really unsure and even afraid of AI and its implications for higher education, but when we shared the NWU’s vision for AI and the practical plans and training courses we already have in place, people started to feel more relaxed and confident in using it. One participant said the roadshow gave her hope!”

He also states that he is excited about the progress being made, especially regarding new initiatives the NWU AI Hub has in the pipeline.

“The biggest achievement so far was the development and launch of the online AI course for students. This course was developed over the December holiday by the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and Prof Liandi van den Berg. They worked really hard to have it ready and it was launched on 17 February. We hope that all students will complete it, but we also encourage all staff, academic and support, to complete it because it gives a basic introduction to and experience of the magic of AI. The link is on eFundi under NWU Formal Sites.”

The course is titled AI for Academic and Career Success and is a self-paced workshop.

Prof Verhoef also implores both academic and support staff at the NWU to make use of opportunities such as the AI roadshows.

“It is important for academic and support staff to become aware of and trained in AI because it is going to affect the way we operate as a university. Some administrative tasks will be delegated to AI in future and then we as humans can focus on more high-level tasks. In academia, AI is already changing the way students do research and we as lecturers need to help prepare them to use AI ethically and responsibly. AI has huge potential to relieve academics of some of their time-consuming tasks. We need to start and experiment with it to discover its potential in our unique workplace and academic fields.”

The next round of AI roadshows aimed at students will take place simultaneously on all three campuses on 25 March.