By Newsroom Staff
LISLE, Ill. – Dec. 15, 2025 Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming not just how people work, but how they learn, and higher education institutions are racing to keep pace. What once required specialized programing knowledge now sits within reach of anyone willing to master emerging AI tools. Colleges and universities are entering a period where innovation is no longer just about new technologies; it’s about orchestration.
“The real shift in 2026 will be how institutions connect data, systems and workflows to make learning and operations more intelligent and adaptive,” said Chris Campbell, chief information officer at DeVry University.
AI is disrupting traditional models of education, from the speed in which students can develop and acquire skills to how accessible and personalized learning has become.
“Large Learning Models (LLMs) are enabling true enablement of AI activities. As agentic and autonomous systems become more mainstream, we’ll need to embrace the power unlocked by this level of automation” noted Richard Korczyk, chief experience officer at DeVry University.
Digital Twins and Hyper-Personalized Learning
At the forefront of this transformation is Agentic AI, which plays a central role moving beyond task automation to create cohesive, context-aware experiences for both learners and workers.
“AI capabilities are making it possible for us to transition from automated logical decision flows,” said Korczyk. “We’re moving deep into the realm of human-like learning and development, empowered by digital twins modeled on how we think and refined by our own experiences and inputs. This creates unprecedented opportunities for personalization in education and workforce training at a scale not seen before.”
“These systems don't just automate,” added Jason Horne, DeVry University’s chief strategy and transformation officer. “They learn, adapt and operate with increasing autonomy and fundamentally change how work gets done.”
As AI capabilities expand, human skills remain more critical than ever. Gartner reports that through 2026, atrophy of critical-thinking skills due to GenAI use, will push 50% of global organizations to require “AI-free” skills assessments. DeVry’s own research Bridging the Gap: Overcoming a Silent Standoff in America’s Talent Economy, underscores this point with 78% of employers and 63% of workers agreeing on the importance of durable skills.
“Our research indicates that as AI revolutionizes industries at breakneck speed, durable skills – such as problem solving, critical thinking and empathy, are key to unlocking job security,” noted Horne. “It’s about balance. Organizations that prioritize durable skills and create a supportive environment for workers to develop new skills will not only cultivate a more resilient workforce but also unlock a competitive advantage in the rapidly evolving landscape.”
Institutional Agility Defines Educational Success
As AI embeds itself across platforms and processes, innovation will depend less on invention and more on how quickly institutions can integrate, govern and operationalize new capabilities.
“As educators, we have to double down on how we apply agile methods to evolve classroom experiences,” Korczyk explained. “That means doing the research to truly understand the future of work while evolving our programs, so they remain well positioned to prepare learners for an AI-driven workforce.”
DeVry University is building that foundation now, integrating AI fluency and durable skills learning pathways across its academic programming and through initiatives like DeVryPro, an innovative AI learning platform, guided by real-time AI learning coaches and aimed at advancing, upskilling and reskilling the workforce. Furthermore, it’s also applying automation and agentic systems in student support, IT and academic services to enhance personalization and responsiveness.
“We’re turning innovation from a project into practice,” said Campbell.
The university also leans into industry connections, engaging our National Advisory Committees (NAC), President’s Advisory Council on Technology & the Economy (PACTE) and the Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN), among others, to identify ways to incorporate new technologies and processes for learners.
“By integrating real work experiences directly into coursework, students aren’t just learning theory but developing relevant technical competencies and the judgment to apply them effectively,” noted Horne. “That’s a critical advantage to possess in an AI-augmented workforce.”
Accountability in an Autonomous Age
With the rise of autonomous AI systems, educators are also navigating new challenges around ethical, operational and data governance. Decisions about responsibility, transparency and accountability become central to maintaining educational credibility. Gartner projects that by end of 2026, more than 2,000 legal claims of “death by AI” could be filed due to insufficient guardrails.
“The unknowns create pause and educators that don’t connect the dots will likely suffer as analysis paralysis grips learners,” noted Korczyk.
“At DeVry, we’re embedding that responsibility directly into our AI initiatives,” Campbell added. “We treat the university as a learning lab—experimenting carefully, documenting outcomes and using those lessons to evolve both our classroom experiences and our institutional practices.”
Building Future-Ready Foundations
One thing is certain, learners need to not only use AI effectively but also understand its implications. The innovation trends shaping 2026 demand more than technological adoption and extend beyond the classroom.
“Innovation is embedded in how we think, operate and evolve,” said Horne. “As technology, data and human potential converge, we’re focused on building an institution that learns as fast as the world changes.”
By pairing responsible AI adoption with a culture of continuous experimentation, DeVry University is ensuring that both learners and educators remain future-ready, agile, ethical and aligned to meet the needs of a rapidly transforming workforce.
Learn more here.
