How AI Is Changing Higher Education and Student Learning

AI Tools Erode Academic Rigor as Students Skip Deep Learning, Expert Warns

Between Over-Academization and AI Pressure, Traditional Degrees Are Losing Their Footing—Now Universities Must Reinvent Themselves

In November 2024, generational researcher Hartwin Maas warned in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung of severe consequences stemming from the use of AI in higher education. "Students lack fundamental skills," declared the stark headline of his critique.

His diagnosis was equally bleak: academic training, he argued, was rapidly losing value due to the rise of artificial intelligence. Maas, an industrial engineer by training, described a growing "copy-and-paste mentality" among students. Many now upload documents into AI tools, generate summaries, and engage only superficially with the subject matter.

"Those who do not internalize content themselves cannot truly apply it," the researcher told the FAZ. A study by the CHE Centre for Higher Education in summer 2025 revealed that the share of students who had never used AI in their studies had shrunk to single digits.

The consequences, Maas asserted, are measurable. The widespread use of language models like ChatGPT is reducing synaptic development in the brain. He cited cases of sociology students who no longer read books or lecture notes at all, instead simply uploading texts. "Thinking outside the box" is no longer being cultivated, the futurist warned.

A particularly alarming trend, in his view, is that most students use AI without a deep understanding of data or how these systems function. The repercussions are already evident in the workplace, where graduates often lack core competencies—such as the ability to independently apply knowledge to new problems.

At the same time, many academics overestimate their own capabilities when entering the job market. "They believe they're highly skilled, but in reality, they can do very little in practical terms," Maas observed.

Just how pervasive AI use has become is illustrated by the aforementioned CHE study—though its data is now somewhat dated. In the 2024/25 winter semester, the center surveyed 23,288 students at German and Austrian universities. The findings were striking: roughly two-thirds reported using AI tools like ChatGPT at least once a week, while a quarter did so daily. Only one in sixteen had never used AI in their studies.

Given that AI has dominated public discourse for months, it is highly likely that adoption rates have since climbed even higher—especially among young people in fields heavily reliant on text-based work.

Usage frequency varies significantly by discipline, the CHE study noted, highlighting structural differences. In mechatronics, over 75% of students regularly use AI applications, compared to just under half in civil and environmental engineering.

Purposes also differ: while 60% of mechatronics students use AI tools at least weekly for general research, the figure drops to just one-third in German studies.

Overall, students most commonly employ AI as a "sparring partner" for research or brainstorming. "For text generation or literature reviews, however, AI still plays a relatively minor role as a ghostwriter," explained study author Marc Husch. One-third of the anonymous respondents claimed they had never used ChatGPT for academic writing—though whether this reflects reality remains an open question.

When asked to rate their universities' offerings for acquiring AI skills, students gave an average of just 2.7 out of 5 stars.

"Universities must ensure all students benefit equally from AI applications by providing comprehensive training programs," Husch urged. AI competencies, he argued, should be embedded in curricula, with proficient AI use becoming a standard component of academic methodology courses.

In his FAZ interview, Maas painted a grim picture for the future of academic qualifications: "The value of a university degree will continue to decline."

Youth Trend Study 2025 Finds AI Eroding the Value of Academic Degrees

The 2025 Youth Trend Study reveals that the growing use of artificial intelligence is likely to diminish the prestige of academic qualifications—particularly in the humanities and social sciences, where poorly considered AI adoption could devalue degree programs.

Researchers also point to systemic issues. Over recent decades, Germany has placed excessive emphasis on academic pathways, they argue, with record numbers of students attending Gymnasium high schools and earning their Abitur—often with top grades. "The focus has been on quantity over quality," criticized Maas, a researcher involved in the study. Many professors estimate that 30 to 50 percent of university students lack the aptitude for higher education. Compounding the problem is the near disappearance of academic "weeding out" during studies.

Job Market Shifts Toward AI Skills

The labor market has been undergoing a quiet transformation. In April 2025, a study by the German Economic Institute (IW Köln) found that job postings requiring proficiency in generative AI had nearly tripled in 2024 compared to the previous year—though they still represented just 0.18 percent of all listings.

Over a third of these AI-focused roles were in IT, but two-thirds lay outside the tech sector, particularly in corporate management (14 percent), advertising and marketing (8 percent), and higher education and technical research (4 percent each).

A futurist involved in the research predicts that different skills will take precedence in the years ahead: "The ability to engage in meaningful exchange, communicate effectively, collaborate in teams, and think critically. Project management and self-organization will also be key."

His observation—that employers will prioritize candidates based on their AI literacy, creativity, and teamwork—remains as relevant now as it was four months ago.

Trade Professions Gain Ground

Maas also argues that skilled trades are "steadily climbing the ladder" in terms of status and appeal. Unlike monotonous office work, trades offer greater job security and often higher satisfaction, he notes. "People see the tangible results of their labor—it's far more motivating and fulfilling."

Another advantage is the earlier entry into the workforce. Apprenticeships begin at 16, with trainees completing their qualifications in three years and gradually increasing their earnings—precisely when financial needs are highest. University graduates, by contrast, may not finish until 25, then face student debt and only fully enter the job market in their 30s.

When asked whether he would still recommend pursuing a degree, Maas was blunt: "If AI adoption continues at this pace, I'd advise against it—the value of degrees is declining." He cautions those who study solely for the credential, adding that some students admit to never having written a single term paper themselves.

Universities Adapt to the AI Challenge

Higher education institutions are beginning to respond. The Hochschulforum Digitalisierung (Digital Higher Education Forum) has documented 77 practical examples of generative AI applications at German-speaking universities, ranging from AI-assisted feedback and tutoring to simulation-based communication training.

Over half of these use cases come from universities of applied sciences, with roughly 45 percent from traditional universities. Business and social sciences lead in adoption, while the humanities—a field once skeptical of AI—are showing surprising momentum.

To support strategic AI integration, the German Rectors' Conference has launched KI-LOTSE, a new advisory service. The Federal Ministry of Education, Technology, and Space is funding the initiative with €6.9 million from January 2026 to March 2029.

Meanwhile, the AI Campus, an online learning platform, has kicked off a collaborative project to systematically build AI competencies in teaching, research, and administration. The goal: to reach over 500,000 learners with free educational resources.

A study cited by Maas reveals that 36 percent of young people fear being replaced by AI, with anxiety running particularly high among those who have yet to enter the workforce. However, one researcher downplayed these concerns:

"AI isn't taking over entire professions—just specific tasks."

Yet deeper structural issues persist: politically driven pushes for academic qualification, funding tied to student enrollment, declining failure rates, and societal pressure to pursue higher education. The assessment? The value of a university degree isn't diminishing solely because of AI—it had already been devalued by a system that long ago rendered credentials inflated.

Meanwhile, a growing number of German companies are looking to build AI-related skills. What remains unclear, however, is how this shift will actually reshape the labor market.