Conference Free

AI Preparedness: Strategy, Culture and Infrastructure for Universities

10am – 3pm 30 September 2025 Snowflake London Office, 3 Crown Place, London, EC2A 4EB

Thei Higher Education Policy Institute's (HEPI) recent report, The Future of the Campus University: 10 Trends That Will Change Higher Education, has highlighted how AI is set to transform universities, shifting them from content delivery towards curating programmes that nurture professional, vocational and personal growth.

Simultaneously, concerns are growing over the speed and scale of generative AI adoption among students, with some studies suggesting that close to half of assessed work now contains AI‑generated material.

At the same time, government initiatives, supported by major technology firms, are prioritising AI skills development across the workforce, placing pressure on universities to equip graduates with fluency in the very tools they are seeking to regulate. This creates a clear tension: universities must uphold academic integrity while preparing students for an employment market that increasingly expects confidence in AI‑enabled work.

The shift towards this AI-rich environment will require new staff capabilities, a rethinking in curricula, and a collective reassessment of how universities respond to changing student and employer expectations.

Against this backdrop, techUK is pleased to be hosting this half‑day summit at SnowFlake's London HQ, bringing together higher education, policy and technology leaders to explore what genuine AI preparedness looks like and how institutions can act on it now.

Event Details

Date
Tuesday 30 September 2025

Time
10:00 – 15:00

Venue
Snowflake London Office
3 Crown Place
London EC2A 4EB

The Discussions

Discussion One: The Risk of Misreading the AI Moment as a Passing Phase

Explores how AI is different from past technology shifts, reshaping higher education through rapid changes in student expectations, employer demands, school‑level AI use, and corporate learning. Institutions face pressure from multiple directions, making it harder to stay relevant without bold, joined‑up responses.

Key themes include:

Students are widely using AI but feel institutions lag behind.
Employer expectations for AI‑ready graduates and implications for strategy.
AI’s influence on both early education and workplace learning.
How universities position themselves as creators rather than consumers of AI‑driven learning.

Discussion Two: AI‑Ready Infrastructure and Long‑Term Strategy

Examines the systems and architecture behind the AI shift, including data strategy, interoperability, and digital security. Challenges the assumption that current IT systems are ready for AI and asks what needs to evolve for true preparedness.

Key themes include:

Adjusting data strategies to meet AI’s demands.
Managing rising cyber risks in higher education.
The potential for shared tools and testbeds across institutions.

Discussion Three: Culture as the Graveyard of Failed Technology Change

Focuses on the leadership and cultural shifts required for meaningful AI adoption. Highlights the need for trust, collaboration, and governance to ensure AI readiness is not just a technical exercise but an institution‑wide transformation.

Key themes include:

The need for cross‑institutional strategy and narrative‑building.
Overcoming cultural resistance and reframing AI beyond surveillance or cost‑cutting.
Co‑ownership of AI strategy across pedagogy, IT, student services, and policy.
Training, incentives, and governance as the human infrastructure for AI adoption.