As part of the Professional Qualification Project, the Academic Vice-Rector's Office conducted a workshop on Generative Artificial Intelligence in Education. The workshop was led by Dr. Raúl Ramírez Velarde, a professor from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Mexico. This update session took place on May 7 and 8, 2024, and was attended by a large group of professors from our Alma Mater.

As we have shared on numerous occasions, one of the strategic pillars of our current Institutional Development Plan is our people; people who are considered the most valuable asset of our University. Therefore, the Academic Vice-Rector's Office is advancing the Professor Qualification Project, which aims for the continuous updating of teacher training processes and the strengthening of teaching according to the most advanced pedagogical practices. In this context, on May 7 and 8, 2024, Dr. Raúl Ramírez Velarde, a professor from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM) in Mexico, visited our facilities with a clear mission: to conduct the workshop on Generative Artificial Intelligence in Education.

"Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) is just another tool at the service of students and teachers. We cannot deny its existence or its use, and prohibition is not the way forward. We must radically change, especially the way we design assessments. It is advisable to promote the use of these applications among students as a mechanism to enhance learning," said Dr. Mario Solarte, coordinator of the Professor Qualification Project, regarding the lessons learned from the two-day workshop.

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Similarly, the workshop aimed to introduce professors to the use and potential of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI), specifically through ChatGPT as a tool to transform teaching practices in higher education. It also sought to explore creative and innovative ways to integrate GAI into the educational context to enhance teaching and learning processes, illustrating the possibilities, benefits, and risks of applying GAI in the educational field through practical examples and relevant use cases.

During the workshop, a significant group of professors from the University of Cauca received training on Large Language Models; the background of chatbots; ChatGPT and other chatbots; prompt engineering; generation of presentations, images, videos, and exams; text analysis; rubric design and task grading; research area identification; bibliographic review; narrative heads; class assistants and course creation—tools that will undoubtedly strengthen our teaching processes. Undoubtedly, such processes demonstrate the University of Cauca's commitment to adapting to changes and understanding what transforms teaching practices.

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It is important to highlight that within the Professor Qualification Project, an action plan is also being developed as part of the PROFFES (Program for the Promotion of Higher Education Training) program. This includes three basic lines: EVA (University Life Experiences), INNES (Innovations in Higher Education), and ESTER (Higher Education: Trends, Expectations, and Challenges). Thus, through these three lines, discussions, workshops, conferences, videoconferences, and other training activities are managed, specifically designed to strengthen the educational work of our faculty.

With these types of activities and updates, the Academic Vice Rectory aims to continue its various plans for faculty qualification in the changing educational landscape, which is strongly influenced by technological advancements available to both students and professors. As Dr. Mario Solarte stated, “Participating in the activities of the PROFFES program lines will strengthen your skills, allow you to share experiences, and learn from colleagues passionate about teaching, reflecting on our practices and collaborating in building a solid, cohesive academic community committed to continuous improvement.”

Finally, from this University, which is #HeritageForAll and is on the path to its bicentennial, we invite the entire teaching staff to participate in these enriching training spaces where they can strengthen their pedagogical practices and, in this particular case, stay at the forefront of the latest technological advances. By doing so, they will be able to continue transforming lives and making dreams come true.

For more information:

Professor Qualification Project Academic Vice Rectory

Email: viceacad@unicauca.edu.co