Over 60 pc higher education institutions permitting use of AI tools by students: Report

new delhi: over 60 per cent of higher education institutions (heis) in india now allow students to use artificial intelligence (ai) tools, while more than half are using generative ai to develop learning materials, according to a new report by ernst and young-parthenon in collaboration with ficci.the report, future-ready campuses: unlocking the power of ai in higher education, is based on a survey of 30 leading heis and examines ai adoption in academic and operational areas, including curriculum innovation, governance readiness and faculty development.it found that 56 per cent of indian heis have implemented ai-related policies, with 40 per cent using ai-powered tutoring systems and chatbots. around 39 per cent have introduced adaptive learning platforms, and 38 per cent are leveraging ai for automated grading.“these findings highlight how ai is already impacting curriculum design, assessment models, and classroom engagement strategies,” the report said.the study stressed the importance of embedding ai literacy across all programmes so students from every discipline gain essential skills — from understanding ai ethics and digital competencies to applying ai tools in real-world contexts.instem fields, this includes integrating advanced ai content such as machine learning, natural language processing and robotics into core curricula to equip graduates with specialised technical knowledge.“to unlock ai's full potential, india must move beyond experimentation to scale — integrating ai tools across teaching and operations, embedding ai literacy, investing in digital infrastructure, and strengthening faculty capacity and governance frameworks,” said avantika tomar, partner and education sector leader, ey-parthenon india.the report also cautioned that uneven progress in technology and faculty readiness may slow ai integration, calling for clear classroom policies and updated governance frameworks to guide responsible use.