AI in education lecturer research | News | University College Birmingham

January 2025

Artificial intelligence could revolutionise higher education, according to lecturer research

By Melanie Hall

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Artificial intelligence could revolutionise higher education and improve the student experience at universities, but it still has limitations, according to a marketing expert at University College Birmingham.

Lecturer Rohim Mohammed spoke to Times Higher Education about how AI could be used to support, not replace, lecturers following the government’s unveiling of an ambitious AI action plan for UK growth on Monday.

The AI Opportunities Action Plan, which includes incorporating AI into education, is backed by leading tech firms, some of which have committed £14bn towards various projects.

Rohim, who leads on digital modules on courses within University College Birmingham’s Business School, said clear advantages of AI in education included time-saving, consistency, objectivity and enhanced feedback quality, while it could also help alleviate stress and burn out in educators.

By automating repetitive tasks, more time could be spent on teaching and mentoring students, improving the overall learning experience.

However, Rohim said there were concerns and challenges.

“It has the potential to improve speed, consistency and detail in feedback for educators grading students’ assignments,” he told the Times. “The question is, does it risk compromising the human element central to learning. Perhaps there is a middle ground, where AI could act as a lecturer’s assistant rather than a replacement?”

Lecturer and AI in education expert Rohim Mohammed

Putting theory to the test, Rohim conducted his own experiment into whether AI could reliably and independently grade assignments. Uploading his own assessment rubric to ChatGPT-4 and comparing the AI tool’s grading with his own, the AI over-scored by as much as 20 per cent.

“This gap highlighted current limitations, but it also revealed a valuable opportunity,” he said. “Whether AI could be trained to better align with human judgement. Through iterative learning, I guided the AI to reflect on its grading in comparison with mine. Over time, this process produced grades that more closely matched.

“However, the AI frequently exhibited “hallucinations”, fabricating details and incorrectly commenting on elements of student work. There is more work to do here.”

*A former digital marketing trainer for West Midlands Combined Authority, Rohim is instrumental in reshaping learning using the latest technology at the University. He also prepares both individuals and businesses for a future enhanced by AI as an external consultant. Find out more.

Incorporating AI into the curriculum

We incorporate AI in many ways at University College Birmingham. For example, we recently hosted a conference on the transformational potential of AI in a variety of real-world applications. Business students had the opportunity to engage with expert guest speakers who demonstrated the usefulness of AI in areas as diverse as healthcare, safety, rail transport, sustainability, and unemployment support. We also incorporate AI into courses, including using virtual reality in areas such as nursing and events.

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