Perspectives from University Graduates facing A.I and Automation in Ireland: How do Irish Higher Education’s graduates from Maynooth University perceive AI is going to impact them?

Higher Education graduates in Ireland are being poured every year into the workforce with increasing uncertainty due to technological breakthroughs in AI and Automation technologies. The speed of which is hard to keep up for higher education institutions due to the sheer amount of outdated and unengaging practices inside universities not translating into applicable skills in the workplaces. Qualitative semi-structured interviews are used to delve into the perspectives and attitudes of graduates from Maynooth University, a mid-size Irish university. The observed graduate perceptions range from lack of employable skills and practical knowledge plus a widespread culture of instrumental credentialism and lack of assertiveness in cases where the quality of the education is perceived as bad; to positive perspectives surrounding Universities lifestyle and flexible AI-powered ways of learning. Through Interpretative exploratory techniques, this thesis contributes to the discussion of a more sustainable Artificial Intelligence and education system, based on the pursue of new literacies updated to the XXI century.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

masters

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

National University of Ireland Maynooth

Year dc:date.issued

2019

Author dc:creator

• Armas Sánchez, Pablo D.

Language dc:language

en