Abstract
For years, the future of work debate has centred on AI automation and which jobs may be replaced by technology. Yet the emerging evidence points to a more nuanced reality. While some tasks are increasingly automated, many of the fastest-growing opportunities will belong to those who can effectively augment AI, combining technical capability with human judgement, creativity and problem-solving.
For universities, understanding the balance between automation and augmentation is now a strategic imperative: Which skills are becoming less valuable? Which capabilities are increasing in demand? And how should institutions respond as employers seek graduates who can work confidently alongside increasingly capable technologies?
This presentation will explore how AI is reshaping workforce demand and redefining graduate outcomes. Drawing on global skills and labour market trends, it will examine the capabilities most likely to drive success in an AI-enabled economy and consider how universities can embed them across student experience and curricula design.
As the focus shifts from preparing students for jobs to preparing them for continuous adaptation, universities have an opportunity to strengthen their value proposition by equipping graduates with both technical expertise and the human capabilities and shift perspectives to a lifelong learning journey.
Learning objectives
- Understand how AI is shifting workforce demand from automation to augmentation, drawing on the QS World Future Skills Index.
- Identify the human capabilities that will differentiate graduates in an AI-enabled economy.
- Explore the implications for graduate outcomes, employability, and curriculum design.
- Learn how universities can combine technical and human skills to create future-ready talent.
- Gain insights into building institutional relevance in a rapidly evolving labour market.
Target audience
University leaders, academic and curriculum innovators, employability and careers professionals, international strategy teams, industry engagement leaders, and policymakers seeking to strengthen graduate outcomes and workforce relevance in the age of AI.