Degrees of Change

Chapter 10Higher Education's Dual Role in the AI Economy: Balancing Foundational Learning and Micro-Credential Innovation

—Bassel Daher, Zainab Ashkanani, Rabi H. Mohtar, Konstantinos Pappas, C. Silva Hamie, Khalil M. Dirani, and Efstratios Pistikopoulos, Texas A&M University

There is a growing imperative of building AI literacy and workforce skills in an era of rapid technological change. Through analysis of over 1.3 million job postings, the study covered in this chapter reveals that while demand for specialized technical skills is growing, foundational competencies, including critical thinking, ethical reasoning, communication, collaboration, and domain expertise, remain essential across both AI-developing and AI-using roles. The global rise of micro-credentials presents an agile solution for targeted technical upskilling, yet most AI-related micro-credentials are offered by private sector organizations and emphasize technical skills. Universities face opportunities and challenges as they work to integrate micro-credentials into credit-bearing programs, maintaining their central role in developing enduring competencies while responding to shifting industry needs. Addressing these issues requires coordinated action from policymakers, educators, and industry leaders to set standards and ensure quality for micro-credential offerings and make sure the skills needed for the future workforce are met. Such collaboration will help universities remain innovative and well-positioned ...