Old Roots, New Routes: Adapting Classic University Practices for an AI World

Teaching has the power to shape both individual students and institutional culture, especially when we adapt our core conventional practices to meet the modern demands of an AI-driven world. We can achieve this by balancing three essential pillars. First, Pedagogical Portfolios serve as a powerful tool for teacher empowerment, allowing educators to uniquely position themselves, articulate their distinct philosophy, and own their professional growth. Second, institutions must serve as a vital bridge between students and teachers, defining new, human-centric processes that accommodate modern-day demands; this includes integrating cross-disciplinary studies to connect diverse fields and fulfill the overall purpose of the educational program. Third, I argue that by leveraging these conventional roots to foster collective learning based on discussions, active teacher empowerment, and strong institutional support, we create the collaborative, human-centric environment needed to maximize the opportunities and successfully navigate the challenges that AI brings to modern education. ● About the Speaker: » Dr. Salman Toor is an Associate Professor at Uppsala University and co-founder and CTO of Scaleout Systems. His work spans both academia and industry, with a focus on distributed systems, artificial intelligence, and data-driven innovation. Alongside his research and entrepreneurial activities, he is deeply engaged in higher education, mentoring students and contributing to discussions on teaching, learning, and the future of education. He frequently delivers lectures and workshops for students, educators, and professionals, advocating for more collaborative, reflective, and inclusive approaches to learning. This session will be moderated by Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy.