Preparing students for an AI-driven world: generative AI and curriculum reform in higher education

Higher Education Press

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Intersections among GenAI, higher education, and curriculum reform. Intersections represent areas where these domains collaborate to address challenges and opportunities in modern education.

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Credit: Ying Ma, Youxiang Su, Mingda Li, Yu Zhang, Wantong Chai, Amin Huang, Xiaofei Zhao.

This research article addresses the imperative of curriculum reform in higher education to prepare students for an AI-driven world amid the rapid advancement of Generative AI (GenAI). It proposes a comprehensive framework centered on three core strategies: fostering interdisciplinary AI literacy via tiered courses (foundational concepts, applied uses, advanced techniques) covering technical fundamentals, ethical implications, and practical tool use; shifting pedagogy from rote memorization to problem-solving through active learning (e.g., problem-based learning, project-based learning) and interdisciplinary collaboration; and establishing dynamic curriculum update mechanisms (industry partnerships, modular design, self-directed learning cultivation).

Additionally, the study examines critical implementation considerations, including faculty training, resource allocation, ethical issues (bias, privacy, academic integrity), assessment redesign (prioritizing higher-order thinking), and strategies to preserve academic honesty. It concludes with future research directions and emphasizes institutions’ urgent need to adopt proactive, ethical, and adaptive measures to harness GenAI’s potential for equitable, effective education.

The work titled “Preparing Students for an AI-Driven World: Generative AI and Curriculum Reform in Higher Education”, was published on Frontiers of Digital Education (published on September 15, 2025).

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Journal

Frontiers of Digital Education

DOI

10.1007/s44366-025-0067-6 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Preparing Students for an AI-Driven World: Generative AI and Curriculum Reform in Higher Education

Towards AI: the evolution of digital education policy in the United Kingdom

Higher Education Press

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Phased release frequency of digital education policies in the UK.

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Credit: Jialong Xu, Mengyu Luo, Xinxin Zhang

This research article examines the evolution of the UK’s digital education policies from 2008 to 2024 through discourse analysis of 21 official policy documents and Foucault’s power discourse theory. It divides the evolution into four stages: 1) 2008–2012 (early exploration and slow progress, focusing on foundational infrastructure and basic policies); 2) 2013–2014 (policy acceleration and global engagement, addressing the digital divide and enhancing international cooperation); 3) 2015–2019 (diversification and systemic integration, emphasizing digital skills cultivation for emerging industries and equity); and 4) 2021–2024 (AI-driven transformation, prioritizing AI integration, data security, and ethical use).

Key policy trends identified include comprehensive digital technology integration, personalized education for digital natives, digital literacy cultivation and teacher development, bridging the digital divide, and strengthening research-policy links. The study highlights the UK’s shift from basic digital initiatives to AI-focused education, offering insights for global policymakers on balancing technological innovation, educational equity, and ethical considerations, with practical validation from cases like the “Sabrewing Programme.”

The work titled “Towards AI: The Evolution of Digital Education Policy in the United Kingdom”, was published on Frontiers of Digital Education (published on September 15, 2025).

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Journal

Frontiers of Digital Education

DOI

10.1007/s44366-025-0070-y 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Towards AI: The Evolution of Digital Education Policy in the United Kingdom

Explainable few-shot knowledge tracing

Higher Education Press

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The cognition-guided framework for explainable few-shot knowledge tracing

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Credit: Haoxuan Li, Jifan Yu, Yuanxin Ouyang, Zhuang Liu, Wenge Rong, Huiqin Liu, Juanzi Li, Zhang Xiong

Conventional knowledge-tracing models require thousands of question–answer pairs and offer little pedagogical insight, a mismatch to real classrooms where teachers rely on sparse evidence and explicit reasoning to guide intervention. Leveraging the few-shot in-context learning capability of GPT-4 and GLM-4, the proposed “observation–cognition–interpretation” pipeline first selects a small set of representative attempts, then fuses item text and skill tags to infer mastery, and finally articulates weaknesses and remedial suggestions in plain language. Experiments on FrcSub, MOOCRadar, and XES3G5M show that with only 4–16 samples per learner the approach matches or surpasses deep baselines such as DKT, AKT, and SAINT, while expert raters deem its explanations substantially credible. By coupling accurate prediction with actionable feedback under extreme data constraints, the study opens a practical path toward small-sample, strongly interpretable learning analytics and lays groundwork for extending assessment to open-ended problems and multimodal coursework.

The work titled “Explainable Few-shot Knowledge Tracing”, was published on Frontiers of Digital Education (published on September 22, 2025).

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Journal

Frontiers of Digital Education

DOI

10.1007/s44366-025-0071-x 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Explainable Few-Shot Knowledge Tracing

 

Rediscovery of lost fish species provides a second chance for conservation

Pensoft Publishers

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Moema claudiae.

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Credit: Heinz Arno Drawert and Thomas Otto Litz.

Researchers have announced the rediscovery of Moema claudiae, a species of seasonal killifish in Bolivia that was previously thought to be possibly extinct. This rediscovery provides new hope for the conservation of this unique fish and the diverse wetland habitats of the region.

Moema claudiae was last seen over 20 years ago in its original locality, in a site now destroyed and converted to agricultural land. Despite extensive surveys in recent years, no other living individuals had been found, and the species was deemed Critically Endangered according to IUCN criteria and thought to be possibly extinct.

However, in a recent expedition, researchers Heinz Arno Drawert and Thomas Otto Litz located a surviving population in a small, temporary pond within a remnant forest patch surrounded by farms.

Published in the open-access journal Nature Conservation, this is the first record of the species in more than two decades and enabled scientists to take the first-ever live photographs, observe its behaviour, and study previously unknown aspects of its natural history.

Thomas Litz, one of the co-authors, said: “For me, it is something special to have rediscovered Moema claudiae. This has shown that we now have the opportunity to preserve this species in the wild. I am all the more pleased because Prof. Wilson Costa named this species after his wife Claudia, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank him especially for decades of collaboration and support.”

The rediscovered habitat harboured not only Moema claudiae but also six other species of seasonal killifish, making it the most genetically diverse assemblage of these fish ever documented worldwide. The region’s unique ecology, where the Amazon forest meets the Llanos de Moxos savannas, appears to support this diversity, but rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion threaten these habitats at an alarming rate.

Following this discovery, scientists emphasise the urgent need to protect the area, as it is now the only known site harbouring a wild population of Moema claudiae, as well as an exceptional global hotspot for seasonal killifish diversity.

Over the last 25 years, nearly 10 million hectares of forest were lost in Bolivia, including vital wetland habitats. Deforestation has accelerated dramatically in recent years, raising serious concerns for the future of many unique species and ecosystems.

“Without rapid and effective action to curb the irrational expansion of the agricultural frontier in Bolivia’s lowlands, we risk losing some of the world’s most important terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and with them the irreplaceable goods and services they provide,” added co-author Heinz Drawert. “We cannot hope to achieve true social and economic wellbeing unless we also maintain the functionality of the ecosystems that sustain it.”

Original source

Drawert HA, Litz TO (2025) Rediscovery of a thought to be extinct beauty: a second chance for conservation. Nature Conservation 60: 115-124. https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.60.160386

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Journal

Nature Conservation

DOI

10.3897/natureconservation.60.160386 

Article Title

Rediscovery of a thought to be extinct beauty: a second chance for conservation

Article Publication Date

14-Nov-2025




Moema claudiae.




Moema claudiae.



Moema claudiae habitat.

Heinz Arno Drawert.



Thomas Otto Litz.


Credit
Heinz Arno Drawert and Thomas Otto Litz.

 

Tourists give restaurants higher ratings than locals, new study finds

Travelers’ emotions and experiences drive more generous online reviews

Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences

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Key takeaways

• Tourists are 13.4% more likely than locals to give restaurants higher online ratings.
• Travelers’ reviews are shorter, more emotional and include more photos.
• The “tourist bias” can mislead consumers and affect restaurant reputations worldwide.

BALTIMORE, Nov. 14, 2025 — Tourists don’t just bring cameras and appetites on vacation, they also bring rosier opinions. A new study in the INFORMS journal Information Systems Research finds that travelers systematically give restaurants higher online ratings than locals do, revealing a “tourist bias” that could distort how diners and platforms interpret online reviews.

The study, “Why Is the Grass Always Greener on the Other Side? Tourist Bias in Online Restaurant Ratings,” was conducted by DaPeng Xu of South China University of Technology, Xiaoquan (Michael) Zhang of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Hong of Tongji University and Qiang Ye of the University of Science and Technology of China.

Analyzing nearly 71,000 restaurant reviews from a leading Chinese review platform, the researchers discovered that consumers were at least 13.4% more likely to leave a higher rating when visiting as tourists rather than locals. The effect remained strong across restaurant price levels, reviewer genders and city sizes.

“Travel changes how people experience and evaluate dining,” said Xu, the study’s lead author. “When people are away from home, they’re more emotional, more excited and more forgiving. That emotional uplift translates directly into higher ratings.”

The study ruled out simpler explanations, finding that tourists’ higher scores weren’t due to visiting more expensive restaurants or receiving better service. Instead, the researchers found that travelers focus less on practical factors like price or location and more on feelings, ambiance and service quality. Their reviews also tend to be shorter, use fewer analytical words and include more photos, signs of a more emotional response.

“Online platforms and businesses should recognize that not all ratings mean the same thing,” added Zhang. “A restaurant with many tourist reviews may appear better than it truly is for locals, or vice versa.”

The findings underscore the global relevance of the research. Although the data came from China, the authors note that the emotional lift of travel and its effect on ratings likely extends to any destination or culture where tourists share online experiences.

You can read the full study here.

About INFORMS and Information Systems Research

INFORMS is the world’s largest association for professionals and students in operations research, AI, analytics, data science and related disciplines, serving as a global authority in advancing cutting-edge practices and fostering an interdisciplinary community of innovation.

Information Systems Research, an INFORMS journal, focuses on the utilization of information technology to enhance organizational efficiency. INFORMS helps its members advance research and practice through cutting-edge journals, conferences and resources. Learn more at www.informs.org or @informs.

 

Contact

Rebecca Seel

Public Affairs Specialist – INFORMS

rseel@informs.org

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Journal

Information Systems Research

DOI

10.1287/isre.2020.0620 

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Why Is the Grass Always Greener on the Other Side? Tourist Bias in Online Restaurant Ratings