Data is the New Oil: The Future of AI, Ethics, and Institutional Research

Session Abstract: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is advancing at unprecedented speed, reshaping higher education through predictive models, generative tools, and data-driven decision-making. Yet the mantra that “data is the new oil” underscores both AI’s promise and its risks: flawed or siloed data, misinformation, bias, and limited interpretability. This session addresses the urgent need to balance technical innovation with ethical responsibility. It will trace AI’s evolution, examine challenges of data quality and governance, and present frameworks that promote fairness, transparency, and explainability in institutional research practice.

Keywords: AI ethics, Explainable AI, Higher education analytics, Responsible decision-making