Fadl Al Tarzi, the founder of Nexford University, has articulated his expectation of mounting anxiety regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for academic dishonesty in higher education institutions by 2025. Al Tarzi, who founded Nexford in 2019 with a mission to revolutionise international higher education, emphasises the importance of affordability and innovation in meeting the evolving demands of students globally.
Educated in France and the Middle East, Al Tarzi's educational journey began in Egypt, where he attended high school and later took a web development course at UCLA. He then continued his academic path at the American University in Cairo, which sparked his initial engagement with technology and education. His experiences have shaped his views on traditional educational models, leading him to establish Nexford as what he describes as a “next generation” institution, merging the dynamics of a tech startup with online learning.
Nexford is unique in that it provides US-accredited online degrees to over 5,000 students in more than 100 countries, prioritising low-cost, high-access models of education. Al Tarzi notes the forecast by HolonIQ, which predicts a significant increase in postsecondary enrolments globally, driven largely by burgeoning youth populations in regions like Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia. He asserts that the biggest innovations in education will arise from these emerging markets, where the existing educational frameworks are not adequately meeting student needs.
As demand for educational access continues to grow, particularly in these regions, Al Tarzi stresses the need for systems that avoid reliance on public funding found in countries like the UK and US. He stated, “It’s about how you create a model that can serve a wide customer base without the public funding that you have in the UK or US,” anticipating a swift shift toward more innovative educational options.
In Western markets, particularly in the United States, concerns about the return on investment for higher education are increasing. This is reflected in the rising enrolments at Nexford, where students are increasingly questioning the value of traditional, expensive degrees. “Unless I’m going to Harvard and buying this membership into a super expensive club… this just doesn’t make sense to people anymore,” Al Tarzi remarked. Nexford’s tuition model, which is calculated on a monthly basis in line with local economies, contrasts sharply with the hefty price tags of many traditional institutions.
Central to Nexford's curriculum is a focus on career outcomes, developed based on an analysis of what employers require. Al Tarzi highlighted a fundamental difference between Nexford and traditional schools: “Instead of trying to hire the world’s best faculty and use them to determine what should be taught, it’s much more scalable... if you rely on millions of data points from employers.” This results in a course structure that is designed to be both relevant and practical, leveraging insights gained from industry demands to prepare students for future job markets.
AI is embedded into Nexford's educational framework, not only as a subject matter but as an integral and transformative tool in course delivery. Al Tarzi cited the use of AI in automating grading and curriculum development as a method to enhance educational efficiency and affordability. He mentioned, “We’re embracing AI to enrich the learning experience,” thereby acknowledging both the potential benefits and complexities of incorporating technology into education.
Looking towards the future, Al Tarzi is wary of the challenges that AI poses in terms of academic integrity. He predicts a rise in institutional fear regarding AI's potential for misuse, which may lead to a series of restrictive policies around its use. However, he contends that many of these attempts will likely fail. Instead, he envisions a second wave of adaptation where universities will need to accept the prevalence of AI and its role in educational innovation. According to Al Tarzi, “the industry will continuously filter out the weak players and the innovative ones will continue,” reflecting a broader trend in business and education towards adaptability and resilience in the face of technological change.
Source: Noah Wire Services