Digital Education Council: AI in Higher Education Global Survey 2026

Author

Digital Education Council (DEC)

AI in Higher Education Global Survey 2026

Primary Source: Digital Education Council Report Page
Executive Briefing: DEC Regional AI Survey Event

Overview

The Digital Education Council’s global survey benchmarked AI adoption in higher education across 45,398 responses: 27,284 students and 18,114 faculty across 35 countries. The report covers AI use, literacy, teaching and learning, assessment, institutional policy, and integrity.

Published Key Findings

  • Uneven Course Integration: 43% of students report no course-level AI integration, 43% in a few courses, and only 15% report widespread integration across courses.
  • Student Perceptions of Value: Among students who have experienced course-level AI integration, 5% say it transformed their learning and 28% say it enhanced understanding; 42% call it only somewhat helpful and 24% report no clear learning value.
  • Instructor Readiness Gap: Only 29% of students globally believe their instructors are well prepared to guide AI use (dropping to 17% in the United States and Canada), even though 64% of faculty report participating in AI literacy training.
  • Faculty Intention Variations: Faculty intention to use AI in teaching declined in North America from 76% in 2025 to 67% in 2026, while remaining high across APAC, EMEA, and Latin America.
  • Assessment Disconnect: Only 28% of students feel that current university assessments reflect the skills, work, and judgment needed in an AI-enabled workplace.
  • Academic Integrity Concerns: 60% of students globally are concerned about peers using AI for unfair advantage (rising to 73% in the United States and Canada).

Primary Source References