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Insights from EnrolyCon’25
AI is no longer a future concept in higher education, it’s happening now!
At EnrolyCon’25, we brought together a panel of university and tech leaders, to challenge the dominant narrative. Artificial intelligence isn’t about replacing educators or dehumanising learning. It’s about using intelligent tools to enhance the student experience, streamline operations, and unlock time for what really matters: human connection, creativity, and the joy in learning.
Moderated by Toby Vaughn Kidd, Head of Experimentation and Innovation at the University of Exeter, the discussion brought together a diverse group of voices shaping the future of higher education:
- Mike Stone, Chief Technology Officer, Enroly
- Rebecca Hill, Director of International Student Recruitment, University of Surrey
- Edward Fu, Head of Government Affairs, Duolingo
- Naomi Graham, Vice Principal International & External Relations, Edinburgh Napier University
- Fawad Gul, Tech BDM, Global Education Solutions, AWS
Together, they explored how AI is already impacting students, institutions, and staff - and what needs to happen next.
Reimagining the student journey
A key theme was that AI has the potential to truly personalise the entire student journey - from enquiry to alumni engagement.
Panellists envisioned AI assistants offering always-on, tailored support in students' own languages - anticipating needs, offering nudges, and empowering ownership of learning.
The takeaway? Hyper-personalisation isn’t the future - it’s the new expectation.
From admin overload to human-first operations
While AI's academic applications often grab headlines, the panel highlighted an equally critical area: operations.
From clearing to communications, much of the university experience is still weighed down by outdated processes. As Naomi Graham said: “If we don't invest and change, the cost base is just going to rise and we're going to have to spend more to stand still.”
AI offers a chance to rethink these systems entirely - freeing staff time and shifting energy from admin to impact. Imagine AI handling admin, prompting decisions, and delivering tailored, multilingual comms, allowing staff to focus on meaningful student interactions.
AI that enables, not replaces
Despite its potential, the panel was clear that AI isn’t going anywhere - so universities must shift from policing to partnering, engaging students in honest conversations and redesigning assessments.
Robust guardrails are essential, with ethics, testing, and transparency built in from the start.
AI shouldn't replace human expertise - it should elevate it. As Fawad Gul put it: “Let AI do the laundry so we can do the art.”
Preparing for a rapidly changing world
With the job market evolving too quickly for role-specific training, universities must prioritise adaptability, creativity, and critical thinking. As Mike Stone captured this well when he said: "We can't teach software engineers now to be the software engineers of now. We've got to teach them for the future. Critical thinking is going to come into it a lot more than just knowing stuff."
Some panellists called for a return to learning for its own sake – a shift from the current outcome-driven model.
But challenges remain: cost, bias, and resistance to change. Success will require bold leadership, a growth mindset, and support for staff adapting to new tools.
Key takeaways
AI in higher education must enhance, not replace, the human experience. Success lies in using AI to:
- Augment human capabilities
- Personalise support at scale
- Reduce admin burdens
- Protect creativity and connection
- Implement ethically and experimentally
The future isn’t machine-led, it’s human-centred, technology-enabled, and if we strike the right balance, it will be transformational.
