The penetration of artificial intelligence (AI) in various economic and societal sectors is becoming faster and faster, and education is no exception. Especially in vocational education, AI will cause changes that will affect the way of learning, on the one hand, and on the other hand, will lead to an easing of the administrative burden. AI will make it possible to offer personalised learning, adapt curricula and programmes to meet business requirements and provide better support for students. By understanding the profound implications of the introduction of AI in vocational education, the education system will be better able to prepare students for successful employment in the labour market.
What do we mean by AI?
The European Parliament defines AI as the ability of a machine to demonstrate skills inherent in humans – to reason, to learn, to plan. These are technical systems that monitor the environment, receive data (which are prepared by someone else or that they collect themselves), process it and carry out actions related to the achievement of a specific objective. AI systems are able to adapt their behavior by analyzing the results of previous actions and working autonomously.
And what is the skill related to AI?
It is any skill that is needed to work and interact in a professional environment with AI-related technologies.
AI-related skills are becoming increasingly key in the professional world. For students who have opted for vocational training, skills on how to handle AI-related technologies become a core competence. These skills range from working with AI-powered machines to interpreting AI-processed data, and they are becoming increasingly critical for many industries, such as the automotive, ICT and manufacturing sectors.
Speaking of AI, however, we should also keep in mind the digital skills of the population and students in particular. According to the latest Eurostat statistics on the basic digital skills of the population from 2023, Bulgaria is in second to last place in the European Union, followed only by Romania. This means that in order to successfully introduce AI in vocational education, there is still a lot of work to be done to improve basic digital skills.
What are the advantages of using AI in vocational education?
Personalized training
AI-based platforms can analyze each student's strengths and weaknesses, and this will enable lessons to be taught according to these analyses. Thus, each student will receive training that extracts their maximum potential. This personalized approach will ensure students' individual progress by providing them with targeted support in areas that make it difficult for them.
Better hands-on training
Virtual reality, driven by AI-based technologies, will allow for the practice of technical skills in a safe environment for students – for example, in the field of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, automotive, etc., where in a real environment there are risky activities that are dangerous for students who are not yet experienced. This controlled environment will provide them with hands-on experience through different situations, and will also give them the opportunity to practice many real-world situations that will improve their skills.
Training according to business requirements
The main advantage of AI is that through it, curricula can be updated so that they more adequately meet the demand of businesses. AI can analyse data on labour market developments and track skills in demand through job postings. AI can also help in the development of training materials and modules that reflect the latest technological developments in the specific economic sector.
Better support for students
AI-based learning platforms provide direct support to students in learning outside the classroom – they help them solve problems, explain complex concepts to them, answer questions related to training in a specific profession. AI-based systems can also offer career guidance to students tailored to their interests, skills and career opportunities.
More successful realization in the labor market
Through the use of AI-related technologies, vocational education and training institutions – especially those providing technical training – can provide effective and up-to-date training to prepare students for the rapidly changing labour market and ensure their better outcomes.
Increasing the efficiency of administrative processes in vocational education
AI is significantly changing administrative processes in education. By automating processes such as learning planning, assessment, and tracking student progress, AI will reduce the administrative burden on teachers. AI will be able to predict and track learning outcomes, identify students who need additional support and identify the specific needs of each student.
Challenges and risks of applying AI in vocational education
Despite the undeniable advantages of applying AI in vocational education, the uptake of AI-related technologies carries its own risks. One concern is that the advent of AI will weaken and destroy the teacher-student relationship, thus dehumanizing learning. On the other hand, there is the risk of students developing an addiction to AI-related technologies, which will lead to a decrease in their motivation and critical thinking. Last but not least, AI-based technologies are too expensive to be massively introduced into education, which would be a prerequisite for creating inequality between the different institutions offering vocational education and training.
In conclusion, the introduction of AI-related technologies has the potential to transform the way future professionals are trained in various professions. Harnessing the power of AI, vocational education and training providers can give new teachings to students, provide them with personalised training, and anticipate the skills needed for the professions of the future. The vocational education system should adapt to the changing labour market so as to equip students with the skills they need to succeed in their chosen profession. But this transformation also creates an additional financial burden for vocational schools. They will have to ensure the successful introduction of AI, but balancing the benefits of new technologies and the need for the human connection between teachers and students, as well as the development of critical thinking in students.
For all this to happen, continuing training of teachers and, in particular, vocational training in AI skills should be ensured at the same time and in a well-coordinated manner, the national standards for acquiring professional qualifications should be changed to include skills in working with AI according to the specific profession and, last but not least, to provide the necessary infrastructure for vocational schools to introduce AI-based technologies.
