.svg){kind=small}
Most students believe their chosen field of study is at risk of being “significantly impacted” by automation and AI.
The survey began by probing students about their perceptions of the susceptibility of their chosen fields to automation and AI. About 60% of respondents expressed concerns that their chosen field of study is at risk of being “significantly impacted” by automation and AI.
The level of impact anticipated likely has a strong correlation to specific majors chosen. Some of the majors that are expected to be affected the most include data science and analytics, design, accountancy, marketing, and computer science.
Meanwhile social sciences and humanities, psychology and counseling, education and teaching, fine arts, healthcare professions, and environmental sciences are relatively resilient to automation.
Most students don’t feel their universities are preparing them for the effects of automation
Despite the widespread acknowledgment of the looming threat posed by automation, the survey findings paint a somewhat pessimistic picture of the perceived effectiveness of universities in preparing students for this impending reality.
The survey showed that 62.4% of respondents felt that their educational institutions fell short in adequately addressing the potential effects of automation on their future careers.
This response may stem from the quick advances in AI over the past couple of years and the difficulty required to keep up with that pace.
However, it may also be a result of community colleges, rather than universities, being more agile in responding to the demands of the job market, especially in fields heavily impacted by automation.
This is due to the substantial investment many community and technical colleges have made in developing comprehensive programs to foster technician skills. With the help of employer partnerships, community colleges are building programs that seamlessly complement the operation of automated machinery and robotics.
These types of hands-on programs are attracting lots of Gen Z students and as reported by NPR, “data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows the number of students enrolled in vocational-focused community colleges increased 16% from 2022 to 2023.”
