Generative AI in higher education: professional field, teachers and students

Generative AI (GenAI) has seen a rapid introduction in higher education in recent years. The professional field, lecturers, and students do not know what to expect from each other and from the future, which makes it difficult to organise education effectively. The aim of this research is therefore to explore how teachers, mindful of their students and professional field, can promote student learning, in a context where GenAI is now widely accessible.An exploratory case study was conducted within the commercial domain, with the involvement of the professional field, teachers and students. Data were collected through interviews, diaries, focus groups and questionnaires, supplemented with interventions and expectations formulated by teachers.The professional field sees opportunities to work smarter and more efficiently and emphasizes the need for critically thinking, inquisitive and curious professionals. Teachers demonstrate a variety of didactic approaches to integrate GenAI and experience a shift in roles from subject matter expert to coach, with their didactic and technical expertise becoming more important. Students want to actively learn how to work with GenAI and use it both to create products and to support their learning with additional explanations, exercises and learning materials.GenAI requires a redesign of education, and the targeted professionalization of teachers. The article formulates implications for educational development, institutional policy and future research.