Across and beyond FE, there is a mixture of excitement, cautious optimism and nervousness around artificial intelligence (AI).
Colleges are increasingly aware of the significant opportunities AI presents, but also the challenges it brings for leaders, staff, students and parents alike.
AI represents a fundamental shift in expectations – for learners, employers and for the education system itself. The question is not whether FE engages with AI, but how we do so in a way that is strategic, inclusive and most importantly true to our values.
There is cause for optimism. AI is already reshaping the skills employers need and the way students expect to learn and be supported.
But there are barriers to our ability to provide the tools employers see emerging, and which their future employees will be required to use. In FE, funding, time and capacity are hindrances to potential early AI adoption.
As a sector, we have a collective responsibility to ensure FE plays its part in leading this change.
That is why we have formed a community of leaders focused on the adoption and advancement of AI in FE.
This is a community built for the sector, by the sector. A space where leaders can come together to define priorities and formulate roadmaps to tackle them head on.
Partnership working enables more shared resources, funding and opportunities.
The American computer scientist Fei-Fei Li said “AI is not a substitute for human intelligence, it is a tool to amplify human creativity and ingenuity”.
This should resonate deeply with FE. Our mission has always been about investing in people – developing skills, confidence and opportunity so learners can progress into further study, meaningful work and fulfilling careers. AI should enhance that mission, not distract from it.
However, there is a risk that the sector approaches AI as a technology purchasing challenge.
If AI becomes about buying more tools, without clarity of purpose or alignment to strategy, we will fail to realise its potential.
Some colleges appear to be moving quickly, while others are struggling to do anything at all. That gap matters. It means that, as a system, we are not yet leading from the front. The government expects FE to be proactive on AI – not lagging behind.
Without coordinated leadership and planning, we risk fragmented progress, wasted investment and, most importantly, learners and communities being left behind.
One of the reasons progress can feel uneven is that many FE leaders feel vulnerable talking openly about AI. There can be a fear of saying the wrong thing, or of appearing behind the curve.
That is precisely why safe, trusted spaces for collaboration are essential. Our new community of leaders is designed to provide that space – enabling honest conversations, shared learning and collective problem-solving.
Through this community, we aim to explore practical themes such as developing AI strategies for colleges, leading people and teams through technological change, improving efficiency through AI, governance and ethical leadership, and the potential of smart campuses.
Just as importantly, there is a significant opportunity for colleges to agree, collectively, how we share and jointly commission AI tools and solutions.
We are already working with partners including the Association of Colleges, Amazon Web Services and others to create the conditions for meaningful strategic collaboration, and we look forward to sharing more.
HRUC’s wider partnerships, including with Amazon, underline our commitment to learning from global expertise while keeping FE values at the centre.
In the coming months, we will also be bringing leaders together at a dedicated event to continue this conversation.
AI is moving fast. But with proper system-wide planning, collaboration and leadership, FE can move with confidence.
Now is the time for leaders to step forward, work together and shape an AI-enabled future that delivers for all.
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