AI in Higher Education: MBA Thesis Analyses Opportunities and Threats of New Tools

04.07.2025

Rabee Jilani’s Study Reveals Importance of Human-Centred Approach

With AI-based tools playing an increasingly important role in every sphere of life, what threats and opportunities do these technologies pose to the higher education sector?

That is the question that Iranian graduate Rabee Jilani sought to answer in her master’s thesis. Rabee, who recently completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Education at Wittenborg, explains that she chose this topic based on her experiences as both a teacher and a student. “During my first semester at Wittenborg, I became familiar with AI-based tools, which were a new topic for the school. At the same time, as a French teacher, I saw the potential for students to use AI in their learning process. So, the more I stay up to date in this field, the better I can integrate AI into my classroom.”

Having adopted a quantitative approach, the researcher distributed an electronic questionnaire, which was completed by 145 students from three Dutch universities of applied sciences. Among other topics, the questions addressed how respondents perceive the user-friendliness of AI-based tool interfaces, whether AI makes academic tasks easier and more effective, and how quickly and effectively students can complete tasks using AI systems.

The results showed a positive relationship between AI-based tools and the enhancement of students’ skills, including academic performance, knowledge acquisition and knowledge application. However, the effect was moderate, suggesting that other factors should be considered to maximise the effectiveness of AI tools. “AI tools can be seen as facilitators in the process of improving students’ skills in higher education, as education is a human-centred endeavour. The study reveals that about 50% of the improvements in students’ skills depend on factors beyond artificial intelligence. Therefore, combining AI with human capabilities can make the learning process more effective,” Rabee underlines.

The graduate recommends that the higher education sector continuously review the functions of various types of artificial intelligence and introduce the most suitable tools to students. “In addition to using these technologies to facilitate learning, AI can also be used to measure and evaluate students’ skill levels,” she says.

Rabee advises current students to choose a thesis topic that aligns with their career, experience and interests. Now that she has graduated, she plans to continue building on her skills and career. “I want to improve my Dutch language skills, as well as my knowledge in teaching and technology, so that I can become a French teacher at a school in the Netherlands, just as I was in Iran,” she remarks.