Widening access to HE: How AI can be a force for inclusion

As the landscape of higher education continues to evolve, the question is no longer whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) will change how we teach and learn, but how we can harness it to promote greater access and inclusion for all students. In this blog, Dr Eleni Meletiadou CMBE reflects on her own experiences and suggests that, if wielded properly, AI can be the bridge to a more inclusive academic world.

Coming from diverse backgrounds myself, and having worked closely with international and underrepresented student communities, I have witnessed firsthand the systemic barriers that persist: language hurdles, accessibility challenges, resource inequities, and exclusion based on diverse learning needs. AI offers an exciting opportunity to dismantle many of these barriers - but only if used thoughtfully and ethically.

AI as a bridge, not a barrier

Too often, discussions around AI in education focus on fears of academic misconduct or loss of human connection. While these concerns are real, they risk overshadowing AI’s immense potential to empower learners who have historically been left behind. AI is not the enemy; if wielded properly, it can be the bridge to a more inclusive academic world.

For instance, AI-powered tools like ReadSpeaker can instantly convert lecture notes into audio files, making learning more accessible for visually impaired students. Otter.ai provides real-time transcription services, opening classroom conversations to hearing-impaired students or multilingual learners who benefit from having written support. Translation tools like DeepL help break down language barriers that might otherwise silence brilliant voices from around the world.

Students who are neurodiverse or who learn differently can also benefit enormously from adaptive learning platforms that adjust to their unique paces and styles, ensuring that no one is left behind simply because they process information differently.

Insights from our QAA-funded project

Our recent work on a QAA-funded project exploring AI for inclusion and accessibility in higher education provided valuable insights. We found that when AI was introduced through structured, ethical frameworks, combined with strong faculty development programs, it significantly enhanced student engagement, particularly among underrepresented groups.

Students reported feeling more confident when AI tools supported their independent learning, language needs, and assignment preparation. Educators, when properly trained, were able to create more inclusive and adaptive learning experiences, breaking away from the traditional "one-size-fits-all" model.

This project reinforced the idea that AI alone does not solve inequalities, but when combined with educator training, ethical guidelines, and student-centered design, it can play a transformative role in widening access.

Empowering educators to lead the change

However, integrating AI into education equitably requires much more than simply adopting new tools. It demands AI literacy for educators themselves. If faculty members are equipped with the skills and confidence to use AI ethically and inclusively, they can create learning environments where all students thrive.

Training programs that demystify AI tools - from writing assistants like ChatGPT and Grammarly to visual storytelling aids like Canva and Gamma - are essential. Educators should also be trained to recognize and mitigate AI biases, ensuring that technology uplifts rather than marginalizes.

Creating a centralized AI Resource Hub, launching peer mentorship programs, and embedding AI inclusivity modules into faculty development initiatives are practical steps institutions can take today to ensure that AI is a driver of equity rather than division.

Rethinking the student experience

When we center students in our AI strategies, the potential is transformative. Imagine a university where every student, regardless of background, ability, or location, has access to personalized tutoring bots, real-time language support, and AI-curated study materials that adapt to their learning style. Imagine group projects where AI facilitates more equal participation, ensuring that quieter or non-native English speakers can contribute fully.

Moreover, by integrating case-based assignments that encourage students to critically evaluate AI systems for bias or ethical flaws, we are not just teaching them to use AI - we are teaching them to question and shape the future of technology itself.

The ethical imperative

But with great power comes great responsibility. Institutions must develop clear ethical guidelines for AI use in education, co-created with faculty and students. Establishing AI Ethics Committees, conducting regular AI fairness audits, and implementing strict data privacy policies are all necessary to ensure that AI does not replicate or deepen existing inequalities.

AI must be a partner in education, not a judge, gatekeeper, or unchecked authority.

Looking ahead

The future of higher education must be inclusive, and AI can be a key to unlocking that future if we act deliberately and ethically. As educators, we are at a crossroads: we can either view AI as a threat to traditional models or embrace it as a tool to build a more equitable, accessible, and empowering learning environment for all students.

Widening access is not just a goal; it is a responsibility. And with the insights from our QAA-funded work and a commitment to ethical AI integration, it is a responsibility we are now better equipped than ever to fulfil.