University teachers' perceptions of AI integration: Insights from a qualitative focus group study

Abstract

The relationship between education and artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly important, both from the perspective of educators and students, as AI technologies offer many opportunities to improve educational processes. The research aimed to map the use of AI tools from the point of view of the lecturers at a technical institution of higher education. The methodology of the research is a focus group discussion in which we asked N=12 people about their experiences, opinions, and insights related to the educational application of AI. The research results highlighted the advantages of AI tools in the educational process and in replacing written exams, but also pointed out possible disadvantages such as the unreliability factor due to the complexity of oral exams and the challenges of their application in higher education. It can be concluded that the use of AI in the learning process, the examination process, and the development of curricula will lead to the development of teaching methods that are more efficient and effective. The content and structure of education may change as the technological development of artificial intelligence creates a demand for new skills in the labor market. Educational institutions need to adapt to the expectations and opportunities created by AI in the future.

Keywords: AI integration, higher education, teacher, focus group discussion