Embracing AI at Leeds: A shared journey for our community
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant concept. It’s here, shaping the way we work, learn, and innovate. At the University we’ve taken bold steps to ensure that our community is prepared to navigate this transformation responsibly and confidently.
In September 2025, we launched mandatory GenAI training for all staff and students, and the response has been phenomenal. Almost 9,500 staff members have already completed the course, and feedback shows a significant increase in confidence and understanding. Our commitment is clear: to embrace AI with care, critical thinking, and inclusion as guiding principles.
Why GenAI training matters
Guided by the AI Training and Development Group, led by Catherine Wilkinson and supported by Academic Lead for AI, Samantha Pugh, the 30-minute online course 'Using GenAI at Leeds' was designed to provide a clear, accessible baseline introduction to generative AI (GenAI) and its safe, responsible use in the workplace. The course was widely regarded as useful, earning a median rating of four (useful) and a modal rating of five out of five (very useful), with staff particularly valuing sections on the fundamentals of GenAI and practical case studies.
Staff feedback highlighted successes such as the engaging and accessible structure, confidence-building and empowering for new users, and a balanced mix of information and interaction. There was a notable increase in confidence ratings post-course, with 3,700 fewer staff selecting the lowest confidence level and 2,800 fewer selecting level two, while 4,300 more rated their confidence at four and 3,300 more at five.
Challenges raised included ethical concerns, environmental impact, job security, protection of the visual brand and the need for greater trust and privacy safeguards, with some staff expressing a desire for a more balanced discussion of AI’s limitations.
Recurring requests focused on more practical examples, clearer guidance on tools like Secure Copilot, more nuanced assessment questions, and additional opportunities for practical sessions, case studies, and communities of practice to support ongoing learning and application.
The online course marks just the start of our journey; staff feedback is essential in shaping Leeds' future direction. As the pace of change accelerates, embracing lifelong learning is more important than ever. This ongoing dialogue helps us demystify AI and ensures it becomes a tool that everyone in our community can use confidently and effectively, whatever their technical background.
Supporting professional services colleagues: University of Leeds Data and AI Academy, in partnership with Multiverse
The university has invested in apprenticeships in Data and AI for around 100 colleagues across several of our professional services teams. The current cohort is a pilot, and colleagues started their programmes in October 2025.
The programmes support colleagues to develop their skills in the context of their work, provides a recognised qualification, and should enable them to benefit from improved productivity in their working practices. We will support our apprentices to share their knowledge with the wider university community.
Building expertise in AI Education
We're organising events and initiatives that bring together colleagues who are teaching about applications of AI within their modules and programmes. Our goal is to build a comprehensive repository of resources that can be shared and adopted across the institution, supporting best practice and our ambition of integrating AI education into all our postgraduate programmes.
The bigger picture: Why this matters
The impact of AI on higher education is profound. It touches every aspect of our work, from teaching and assessment to research and administration. The impact is gigantic and moving at a phenomenal pace. If we work together with care, critical thinking and inclusion as guiding principles, we can navigate the challenges and take advantage of opportunities to become an institution that truly embraces the power of AI. This is not about replacing human judgment or creativity. It’s about using AI as a tool to enhance what we do best: educate, innovate, and create knowledge that benefits society.
As an institution, we are ensuring AI becomes a force for good; enhancing education, empowering individuals, preparing our graduates for their professional futures, and strengthening research to tackle the big challenges of today. Universities must embrace lifelong learning and human-centred innovation among both staff and students, to prepare for a world where technology amplifies both uncertainty and opportunity.