Reimagining Higher Education: A Conversation with Dr Kyle Long of American University in Dubai (AUD)

In a recent episode of Studiosity's podcast 'Reimagining Higher Education', Dr Ashraf Mahate sat down with the President of the American University in Dubai (AUD),  Dr Kyle Long, who shared profound insights on the evolving landscape of higher education. With AUD celebrating its 30th anniversary, Dr. Long, who specialises in American education overseas, discussed his personal journey, leadership philosophy, and the transformative impact of AI on learning.

Watch: Full interview recording 

A journey of appreciation and transformation

Dr Long's educational pathway itself highlights the transformative power of higher education. Initially underprepared, he dropped out of university to work in construction, an experience that instilled in him a deep appreciation for learning. He returned to a small liberal arts college, Wabash College, and later pursued a master's at St. John's College, immersing himself in the great books of Western civilisation. His PhD in international comparative education from Columbia University's Teachers College focused on the development of American universities abroad, a field he now leads at AUD.

Leadership in a dynamic environment

As President of the oldest American university in the Gulf region, Dr Long emphasises AUD's clear mission rooted in student success, evidenced by an employability rate exceeding 90%. He believes in "mission differentiation" to help the sector thrive, while constantly innovating with new programs in AI, business, game design, and even a new medical school. This commitment to innovation is a core part of AUD's DNA, dating back to its establishment in 1995 as an innovation in itself.

"While there is some value in standard setting and pursuing excellence together as an entire higher education community, I believe that the sector thrives when there's mission differentiation. And our mission at the American University in Dubai is rooted in student success. That's really our bread and butter."

AUD campus [Photo: www.aud.edu]

The 'era-defining shift' of AI in education

Dr Long views AI not merely as a new technology, but as an "era-defining shift" that is already here. He challenges the traditional "pouring water into a jug" analogy of education, advocating for a shift towards drawing out students' inherent potential.

This necessitates changes in assessment methods, moving towards prompt engineering and critical analysis of AI-generated content, especially in humanities and social sciences. He believes there is a need to empower faculty to integrate these tools, acknowledging that while some methods will remain low-tech and analog, AI can significantly enhance personalised learning. The focus remains on the invaluable human interaction, debate, and challenging discussions that foster true learning and growth.

"We need to empower faculty. We need to help them to understand that they can use these tools to strengthen student learning."

The value of returning to great texts and embracing new approaches

Dr Long advocates for a return to "great texts" in the core curriculum, believing they offer universal questions and insights that foster deeper understanding. He also champions personal growth, reflecting on his own regret of not mastering another language, a skill he observes is common among AUD's diverse student body.

Looking ahead, Dr Long himself is embracing new educational techniques. He will be using adaptive learning technologies in his upcoming course on the U.S. role in world affairs, where assessments will respond to student answers, promoting more efficient and personalised learning. This hands-on approach demonstrates his belief in continuous improvement and serves as an example for faculty who may be hesitant to adopt new methods.

"At AUD we're rolling out a new core curriculum that all of our students, no matter what programme they're in, will end up in our core curriculum. We're finding opportunities to build more of those courses around what we're calling 'the big questions, the big ideas'. I'm really excited about introducing that kind of experience for our students. Better, richer, more immersive."

Dr Long's vision for higher education is one that honours tradition while boldly embracing innovation - a mix of 'old and new together', which he likens to his own personality too - describing himself as an old soul.  This approach at AUD aims to ensure students are not only prepared for future careers, but also for meaningful lives contributing to society.

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🎧 Listen to Dr Long's full episode here: Apple Podcasts   |   Spotify   |   YouTube   |   vimeo