From Experimentation to Integration
The Next Phase of AI in Higher Education
Français • May 21, 2026
The evolution of AI in higher education
Our first national study on artificial intelligence (AI) in post-secondary education (PSE), published in 2024, captured how students and educators were engaging with AI at the start of its rise.
Their early experiences were defined by experimentation, curiosity, and caution.
Nearly two years later, AI use has surged, capabilities have expanded, and institutions are under growing pressure to move from early exploration to deeper, system-wide transformation.
Signal49 Research, in partnership with the Future Skills Centre, is launching a new study to track AI’s evolving impact, spotlight emerging innovations, and identify what is needed to scale effective practices.
In this project, we will do the following:
- Conduct case studies to surface AI‑enabled teaching and learning innovations, showing what works, what doesn’t, and the conditions that enable success.
- Deploy a new national survey to provide an up‑to‑date picture of how educators and students are using AI and how prepared they are for ongoing AI‑driven change.
Translate findings into practical guidance to help institutional leaders scale effective AI practices, overcome barriers, and plan for ongoing, long‑term transformation.
Building on a strong foundation of AI insights
Signal49 Research shows:
- Many educators view generative AI as a useful tool that can enhance learning and streamline teaching, but concerns persist about academic integrity, overreliance, data privacy, and impacts on critical thinking.
- Students are exposed to AI mostly through faculty innovators, rather than coordinated institutional strategies. Adoption is happening from the ground up, with most use being driven by faculty innovators rather than program design. .
- Educators who actively use AI report gains: stronger course materials, more engaging assignments, and improved student learning experiences.
- Many instructors continue to face support gaps, including unclear institutional guidance and limited access to structured AI training, which hinders consistent and confident adoption across programs.
- Canada’s growing investment in AI makes workforce‑ready skills essential. Post-secondary institutions (PSIs) are tasked with preparing learners for an economy where AI shapes innovation, security, and labour‑market demand.
Signal49 Research on AI in education
- “Educators Embrace Generative AI But Student Adoption Lags Behind”
- Who Is Using Generative AI in Higher Education?
- How Are Educators Navigating the AI Revolution?
- Artificial Intelligence Talent in Canada: Emerging AI Skills and Future Workforce
- Higher Education Trend Report: Student Outcomes
- AI-PowerED: Will AI Change Post-secondary Teaching and Learning?
- “Educational AI: Unlocking Potential in Post-Secondary Institutions”
- Code to Career: Artificial Intelligence Skill Trends
- “AI and the Future of Post-Secondary Education: Navigating the AI Revolution”
- Preparing an AI-Ready Workforce: Strategies for Canadian Post-Secondary Leaders
AI innovation in action
Some Canadian PSIs are implementing innovative approaches that demonstrate the potential of AI to enhance teaching and learning:
- Interactive AI collaboration at Simon Fraser University—SFU’s iViz research lab features Kia, an expressive 3D AI persona that debates, discusses, and models ethical reasoning with professors, showcasing AI as an interactive learning partner rather than a replacement.
- AI-powered skill development at Seneca Polytechnic—In partnership with Microsoft, Seneca gives students hands‑on experience with advanced AI through real‑world projects using Azure tools, helping them build the problem‑solving, data analysis, and creative skills today’s workforce demands.
- AI virtual tutors at the University of Toronto—U of T is piloting AI‑powered virtual tutors that give students 24/7 support, helping them navigate course materials and get quick answers to content questions, with each tutor customized by instructors.
From pressure to possibility
AI is moving fast. Falling behind creates real risks for learning quality and graduate preparedness, while the pace of change is increasing pressure on institutions and educators to adapt.
This study aims to explore which emerging practices are generating measurable impact, where critical gaps persist, and which innovations have the potential to support large‑scale transformation.
Get in touch
Want to learn more about this project, share an example of an AI innovation from your institution, or participate in a case study?
Please contact Jessica Rizk, Senior Research Associate, Education and Skills ([email protected]).
FSC partners
The responsibility for the findings and conclusions of this research rests entirely with Signal49 Research.