Articles
DOI DOI: 10.62441/actainnovations.v63i.1277

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN IMPROVING UNIVERSITY EDUCATION: THE OPPORTUNITIES AND THE CHALLENGES AS PERCEIVED BY THE STUDENTS

Asmaa Ahmed1, Aicha Ettaieb 2, Ahmed Mohi Khalaf Sakr 3, Abdel Majeed Ahmed Hendy 4
  1. 1 Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology and Social Work, Fujairah University, UAE. Lecturer, Faculty of Social Work, Assiut University, Egypt.
  2. 2 Professor of Sociology, Ajman University.
  3. 3 Sociology program, Faculty of Arts & Science, Umm Al Quwain University, Umm Al Quwain P.O. Box 536, United Arab Emirates. Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, Minia University, Minya 61519, Egypt.
  4. 4 Department of Sociology - University of Al Dhaid - UAE - College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Department of Population Studies - Minia University- Egypt - Faculty of Arts and Humanities.

Abstract

University education is undergoing rapid technological change, and artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the tools shaping the educational process, improving learning, proposing smart learning environments, and enhancing academic performance. Despite these advantages, there are issues with students' awareness of AI technologies and their willingness to use them effectively.

Study Objectives: This research aimed to examine how artificial intelligence (AI) technologies can improve university education from the student perspective. It identified the opportunities and challenges they face and compiled suggestions to facilitate the effective use of these technologies in the educational process.

Methodology: The current work employs a descriptive-analytical research approach to observe, describe, and analyze the reality of AI use to improve university education from students' perspectives. A convenience sample was used in the study; 81 students from the University of Fujairah were recruited to participate in the academic year 2024/2025. The data were obtained through a set of electronic questions designed to evaluate students' views on the use of AI to improve university education.

Findings: Smart chat applications like ChatGPT were the most popular AI tools among students, followed by summarization and proofreading tools, and finally by smart learning platforms. The findings also revealed that artificial intelligence can be used to make educational material easier and academic success more efficient. Moreover, it offers great possibilities to improve the university learning experience, most notably, the simplicity and quick access to information. The analysis also indicated students' fears about the adverse effects of over-reliance on artificial intelligence on their critical-thinking skills.

Analysis of the hypothesis showed a statistically significant difference in students' perceptions of opportunities and challenges related to academic variables, particularly year of study and major. Among the recommendations offered by the study are integrating artificial intelligence tools into the curriculum, training faculty and students to use them, enhancing the technological infrastructure, and developing ethical policies to govern their responsible use and preserve data privacy.

How to Cite

Ahmed, A., Ettaieb , A., Sakr , A. M. K., & Ahmed Hendy , A. M. (2026). ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN IMPROVING UNIVERSITY EDUCATION: THE OPPORTUNITIES AND THE CHALLENGES AS PERCEIVED BY THE STUDENTS. ACTA INNOVATIONS, 63, 1002–1015. https://doi.org/10.62441/actainnovations.v63i.1277
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