Towards the Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education, Challenges and Opportunities: The African Context, a Case of Zimbabwe.

Abstract

This paper seeks to address the challenges of underdevelopment bedeviling the African continent in general and Zimbabwe in particular on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in higher education. Universities in Africa have over the years produced many graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) related learning areas but continue to grapple with underdevelopment both economically and intellectually. Part of the problem has been identified as a lack of quality in the education system that is not able to produce graduates with adequate 21st-century skills for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to fulfil the Global Agenda 2030. Achieving this is possible if Africa moves a step forward and embraces modern technologies like the integration of AI in her education system. A technologically astute graduate would be able to apply their knowledge in achieving the much-needed sustainable economic development. This article highlights how the implementation of AI in higher education can foster a turnaround in Africa’s education systems and lead to industrialisation and innovation. Pivotal aspects of AI like the Turing machine test, cloud computing, big data, and machine learning are explored in an attempt to add value to the current education discourse. This study is situated in the interpretive paradigm, the qualitative approach was employed to gather data using several methods like e-questionnaires (open-ended), document analysis, and review of journals and other academic publications. Purposive sampling of STEM educators from a renowned university in Zimbabwe was undertaken to gather information on the ground and the data was thematically analysed. The article argues that Africa has the potential to be a leader in Industrialization and commerce should the continent fully embrace AI in higher education.