Auburn University hosts Alabama Higher Education AI Exchange

In collaboration with the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE), Auburn University's Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (Biggio Center) hosted the inaugural Alabama Higher Education AI Exchange on Oct. 11. This event brought together educators, industry leaders, and policymakers to explore the almost limitless potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in reshaping Alabama’s higher education landscape.

“This isn’t merely about how we integrate AI into our institutions to drive efficiency and do better; it presents the possibility and potential of transformative change in the role of the institutions themselves” said Vilas Dhar, President and Trustee of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation. He highlighted the responsibility of education leaders to train a generation of AI leaders during his keynote speech.

Emphasizing the critical need for regional institutions to collaborate, the event aimed to boost awareness and acceptance of digital infrastructure.

“We had our first event in March 2024, and we knew we couldn’t wait another year to have another event on these important topics, so we collaborated with Auburn University, Auburn University Montgomery and Southern Union State Community College to put this on,” said Dr. Jim Purcell, Higher Education Executive Officer at ACHE, who underscored the urgency of the event.

The event focused on the importance of collaboration among regional institutions to enhance digital infrastructure awareness and acceptance. It highlighted AI’s transformative impact on higher education, appreciated efforts to drive change through partnerships, and emphasized the need to be ready for the future by connecting current students with emerging technologies.

“In the next two to five years, there is going to be an amazing shift in innovation output and research potential,” said Louis Stewart, Head of Strategic Initiatives for the Developer Ecosystem at NVIDIA, stressing the need for a “university-wide thought process shift” to keep pace with these changes.

The event marked an ongoing effort to position the state as a leader in AI education and readiness. Dr. Stephen Pruitt, President of the Southern Regional Education Board, summed up the collective goals: “Our role is bringing the South together around policy, instruction, and skill development so some of the best thinkers in the South can listen and contribute together.”

With the success of this inaugural event, Auburn University and ACHE plan to continue building on this momentum, offering future opportunities for institutions across the state to collaborate and explore the evolving world of AI in education.

“Auburn University is recognized as an international leader in exploring the impact of artificial intelligence on higher education,” said Dr. Asim Ali, Executive Director of the Biggio Center. “This event allowed us to extend our collaborative spirit to peers around the state as we welcomed 350 in-person attendees, 250 virtual attendees, and over 50 speakers from 25 different institutions and companies.”

These opportunities for collaboration will also help the Biggio Center build on the success of its Teaching with AI course, which is available online. The course has been adopted by the SEC’s 14 institutions and is used throughout the Alabama Community College System’s 24 two-year schools. It is provided at no cost to Auburn University faculty and staff. Institutions interested in a site license for their campus should contact the Biggio Center via email at biggio1@auburn.edu.