Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Towards best practices for mitigating artificial intelligence implicit bias in shaping diversity, inclusion and equity in higher education

  • Published:
Education and Information Technologies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) strives to create intelligent machines with human-like abilities. However, like humans, AI can be prone to implicit biases due to flaws in data or algorithms. These biases may cause discriminatory outcomes and decrease trust in AI. Bias in higher education admission may limit access to opportunities and further social inequalities, often due to implicit biases in data processing and decision-making. Addressing and recognizing implicit biases in AI is essential to create equal access to higher education admission and opportunities for students. To combat AI implicit biases, it is necessary to monitor and assess their performance and train them using unbiased data and algorithms. This ensures that all students have equal access to higher education and the opportunities it provides them. While the recent studies reviewed the algorithmic approaches to reducing bias, this article focuses instead on exploring the current understanding of the impacts of AI implicit bias in higher education and its implications for admissions. Furthermore, it evaluates the interactions between AI technology and education, specifically in mitigating AI implicit bias algorithms that can be leveraged to achieve inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The data supporting the findings of this study are as follows:

1. Maslej, N., Fattorini, L., Brynjolfsson, E., Etchemendy, J., Ligett, K., Lyons, T., Manyika, J., Ngo, H., Niebles, J. C., Parli, V., Shoham, Y., Wald, R., Clark, J., & Perrault, R. (2023). The AI Index 2023 Annual Report. AI Index Steering Committee, Institute for Human-Centered AI, Stanford University, Stanford, CA. Available online (accessed on November 1, 2023): https://aiindex.stanford.edu/report/

2. Zweben, S, Bizo, B, (2022) Vol. 34, No.5, "CS enrollment grows at all degree levels, with increase gender diversity", Computer Research Association 2021 Taulbee Survey, Available online (accessed on November 1, 2023): https://cra.org/crn/2022/05/cra-2021-taulbee-survey-cs-enrollment-grows-at-all-degree-levels-with-increased-gender-diversity/

3. Baker, R.S., Hawn, A. Algorithmic Bias in Education. Int J Artif Intell Educ 32, 1052–1092 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40593-021-00285-9

4. Herolad, B., (2022), "Why Schools Need to Talk About Racial Bias in AI-Powered Technologies", Education week, Special report, Available online (accessed on November 1, 2023): https://www.edweek.org/leadership/why-schools-need-to-talk-about-racial-bias-in-ai-powered-technologies/2022/04

5. MacMillan, D., Anderson, N. (2019), "Student tracking, secret scores: How college admissions offices rank prospects before they apply", Washington post, Available online (accessed on November 1, 2023): https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/10/14/colleges-quietly-rank-prospective-students-based-their-personal-data/

Notes

  1. UN SDGs gender equality (Goal 5)—https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal5

  2. UN SDGs reduced inequalities (Goal 10)—https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal10

  3. United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)—https://www.un.org/en/ga/

  4. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)- https://en.unesco.org/

  5. International Telecommunication union (ITU)- www.itu.int/en/Pages/default.aspx

  6. Columbia University Transformation learning technologies lab (TLTL)- https://tltlab.org/

  7. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)- www.nist.gov/

  8. CAGR- https://www.gartner.com/en/information-technology/glossary/cagr-compound-annual-growth-rate

  9. USA Civil Rights Act of 1964—https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/civil-rights-act

  10. UK Equality Act of 2010—https://www.gov.uk/guidance/equality-act-2010-guidance#:~:text=Print%20this%20page-,Overview,strengthening%20protection%20in%20some%20situations

  11. EU Charter of Fundamental Rights- https://www.europarl.europa.eu/charter/pdf/text_en.pdf

  12. Capture Higher Ed- https://www.capturehighered.com/

  13. Ruffalo Noel Levitz—https://www.ruffalonl.com/

References

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maryam Roshanaei.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

None.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Roshanaei, M. Towards best practices for mitigating artificial intelligence implicit bias in shaping diversity, inclusion and equity in higher education. Educ Inf Technol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-024-12605-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-024-12605-2

Keywords

Navigation