How will AI reshape our universities, and what does the future hold for higher education? On 8 November, the 2025 World University Presidents Forum was held in Hangzhou. Professor Jon Garibaldi, Provost of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC), attended the forum and delivered a keynote speech at the sub-forum themed "AI and Scientific Research Paradigm Shift".
Centred on the forward-looking theme "AI and the Future of Higher Education", this year’s forum brought together more than 70 university presidents from over 40 countries and regions across five continents, more than 20 leaders from international organisations and key educational institutions, over 200 leaders from renowned Chinese universities, and more than 10 academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering. Participants explored AI’s pivotal role in revolutionising teaching models, transforming research paradigms, and enhancing talent development systems. The forum aimed to identify effective pathways for the high-quality development of Chinese higher education from a global cooperation perspective, while also contributing joint Sino-foreign wisdom and solutions to the sustainable development of global higher education.
In his keynote speech titled “The AI Paradigm Shift: Implications for Scientific Research”, Professor Garibaldi shared insights drawn from over 30 years of experience in AI research. He noted that the public today often equates Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek, with "general AI". In reality, he explained, these models are a specific subset of AI—essentially statistical prediction algorithms whose impressive performance relies on training with massive datasets. Their outputs are not always reliable, and therefore must be used with rational judgement and caution.
Professor Garibaldi emphasised that AI is transforming research practices by becoming an "embedded methodological tool". Just as the computer revolution reshaped research methods, AI will improve efficiency in data analysis, academic writing, and collaborative communication. However, he stressed that AI will not replace human researchers; rather, researchers who use AI effectively will replace those who do not. He called for urgent exploration within various disciplines to identify suitable AI applications and capabilities.
Addressing the dual nature of AI, Professor Garibaldi acknowledged the risks of misuse, such as AI-assisted ghostwriting and data fabrication. In response, publishing organisations like the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) have introduced guidelines that restrict the use of LLMs in academic writing and/or require explicit disclosure of their use. Nonetheless, he emphasised that AI’s positive potential deserves greater recognition: it can help researchers produce well-structured, well-presented, and clearly written high-quality papers. Moreover, AI can support the paper review process by improving readability, checking the reproducibility of research findings, and assisting in designing sound experiments and the applying statistical analysis to ensure that authors’ claims are supported by evidence.
Notably, UNNC has embraced AI-driven innovation this year through the launch of "UNNC AI". This platform integrates enterprise editions of three major models—Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI GPT-4.1, o4-mini, and DeepSeek R1—along with an advanced enterprise-level AI security system. It provides intelligent support for students’ daily learning and offers a reliable platform for staff and students to conduct AI-related research and practice. UNNC remains committed to promoting the integration of technological innovation and education, leading the transformation of higher education in the age of intelligence.
Published on 08 November 2025