Higher Education Plays Pivotal Role in Preparing Graduates for Rapidly Evolving World
For students, she said it raises awareness about emerging technologies and encourages the development of digital competencies and critical thinking skills required in the future workplace.
DUT Connect Magazine Editor and Alumni Relations Coordinator at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), Ronelle Lyson, says higher education institutions play a pivotal role in preparing graduates for a rapidly evolving world of work, particularly as Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to reshape teaching, learning, research, innovation, and industry.
She was speaking on the theme, Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Higher Education, which stems from the growing influence of AI across all aspects of society.
She believes that this inaugural theme presents an exciting opportunity to position DUT as a thought leader in conversations surrounding innovation and the future of higher education.
She added that the edition she is currently working on is not only about technology but about people. It focuses on how students, academics, researchers, alumni, and industry partners can work together to ensure that technological advancement remains inclusive, ethical, sustainable, and impactful.
For the first edition of 2026 of DUT Connect Magazine, Lyson shared the thinking behind the feature titled Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Higher Education and why it is important to explore this relationship between human intelligence and artificial intelligence.
“As a University of Technology, DUT has a responsibility to remain at the forefront of technological advancement while ensuring that innovation serves humanity and societal development,” she said.
The feature seeks to explore the relationship between human intelligence and artificial intelligence, recognising that technology is most effective when it enhances rather than replaces human creativity, critical thinking, ethics, and problem-solving capabilities.
She explained that higher education institutions play a pivotal role in preparing graduates for a rapidly evolving world of work and that understanding this relationship is essential in producing future-ready graduates who can use technology responsibly and effectively.
She added that the theme also provides an opportunity for meaningful dialogue among students, academics, researchers, alumni, and industry partners on how Artificial Intelligence can be harnessed to advance education, research, and societal impact.
The feature aligns strongly with DUT’s ENVISION2030 strategy, particularly in advancing innovation, digital transformation, research excellence, and societal impact.
Lyson said ENVISION2030 positions DUT as a people-centred and engaged university that embraces innovation to address local and global challenges. She added that artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a transformative force across industries and that exploring its role within higher education supports DUT’s commitment to producing graduates who are adaptable, technologically proficient, and responsive to future workforce demands.
She further noted that the theme supports DUT’s aspiration of becoming a globally recognised university of technology by showcasing how the institution can leverage emerging technologies to enhance teaching, learning, research, entrepreneurship, and community engagement while maintaining a strong ethical and human-centred approach.
Lyson highlighted that the magazine serves as a platform for knowledge sharing, thought leadership, and collaboration.
For students, she said it raises awareness about emerging technologies and encourages the development of digital competencies and critical thinking skills required in the future workplace. It also highlights opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and interdisciplinary learning.
For academic and professional staff, the publication provides insights into best practices, emerging trends, and opportunities to integrate AI enhanced approaches into teaching, administration, and student support services.
For researchers, the feature creates visibility for ongoing work, encourages collaboration across disciplines, and stimulates discussion around new research opportunities where AI can be used to solve complex societal and industry challenges. She said the magazine ultimately fosters a culture of innovation and lifelong learning across the DUT community.
She also discussed how artificial intelligence is growing rapidly, particularly the use of tools such as ChatGPT.
“Artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT have significantly transformed the research landscape. When used responsibly and ethically, these tools can assist researchers by improving efficiency in literature discovery, data organisation, language refinement, idea generation, and administrative research tasks.
“However, Artificial Intelligence should not be viewed as a replacement for scholarly rigour, critical analysis, originality, or ethical research practices. Researchers remain responsible for validating information, ensuring academic integrity, and applying disciplinary expertise,” she said.
Lyson emphasised that the challenge for higher education institutions is not whether Artificial Intelligence should be used, but how it should be used responsibly. She said this presents an opportunity for universities to develop clear guidelines, policies, and training that empower staff and students to use AI as an enabler of research excellence while maintaining academic standards and integrity.
While this edition seeks to initiate dialogue, Lyson said it also opens opportunities for future projects and collaborations. Potential initiatives may include AI focused research showcases and symposiums, industry engagement forums exploring the future of work and digital transformation, alumni thought leadership series featuring graduates working in AI related fields, student innovation competitions centred on AI driven solutions for societal challenges, capacity building workshops on responsible AI in teaching, learning and research, collaborative projects between academia, industry, government and communities to address real world challenges through technology, and the development of digital literacy programmes that equip students and staff with future ready skills.
She emphasised that these initiatives align with DUT’s commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship, and engaged scholarship.
Ms Lyson added that the information gathered through this initiative will provide valuable insights into how the DUT community perceives and engages with artificial intelligence. Beyond the publication itself, the contributions can inform future discussions, research collaborations, strategic planning, and innovation initiatives across the university.
She explained that the magazine will serve as both a knowledge sharing platform and a historical record of DUT’s engagement with one of the most significant technological shifts of our time.
She further noted that it can also help identify areas of expertise within the institution, facilitate interdisciplinary partnerships, and contribute to the broader conversation on the future of higher education in South Africa and beyond.
Ms Lyson concluded that the future will not be shaped by artificial intelligence alone.
“It will be shaped by how human intelligence chooses to harness it. Through this edition of DUT Connect Magazine, we hope to inspire meaningful conversations that contribute to building a future ready university and society in alignment with the vision and aspirations of ENVISION2030,” she said.
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