On 5 December, the IPSERA Education SIG workshop ‘Artificial Intelligence Opportunities in PSM Education Initiative’ was held on the role of AI in Purchasing and Supply Management (PSM) education.
This online workshop brought together 25 PSM educators and experts to explore and discuss how AI can add value – or not – to PSM education.
Guest speakers Dr Charles Knight, Assistant Director at Advance HE, and Chaaben Kouki, Professor of Supply Chain Management and Director of the Data Lab at ESSCA School of Management, shared their experiences and approaches to developing innovative AI algorithms, products and services in higher education.
Here are some takeaways:
- Balancing potential and pitfalls: While AI offers efficiencies, it must be applied thoughtfully. Educators must nurture students’ critical thinking skills to ensure that reliance on AI doesn’t hinder intellectual growth or professional development.
- Future trends: The future of AI in education could involve more human-to-AI and event AI-to-AI interactions, enhancing learning delivery while demanding clarity on what roles should remain in educators’ hands.
- The role of educators in the AI era: It will still require the input of dedicated knowledgeable professionals who understand the human dynamic of education and understand how to create enticing engaging programs.
- Ethical considerations: AI’s limitations, such as “hallucinations” and cost scalability are major concerns.
- As educators, we must ask ourselves: What should we delegate to AI, and what should stay within our control?
This workshop was organised by Dr Steve Kelly, Dr Katia Picaud Bello and Dr Klaas Stek from the International Purchasing & Supply Education and Research Association (IPSERA).
