The higher education landscape is changing fast, but has AI been net positive for students? What do university leaders see as some of the key opportunities with AI?
Hear from David Joyner, professor at Georgia Tech, Anant Argawal, the founder of edX, and Xandi Wright, Sr Learning Strategist at edX as they discuss the ways AI is reshaping higher education. Topics include the impacts of AI on personalization of learning, academic feedback, learner interaction, content accessibility and academic integrity. Are students learning more and learning better as a result?
Key topics include:
What are the opportunities and the threats?
What are the latest trends?
Which universities are leading in this space?
What do we know about how this is impacting student outcomes so far?
Speakers:
Anant Argawal, Chief Academic Officer at 2U, Founder of edX, Professor at MIT
David Joyner, Associate Dean for Off-Campus & Special Initiatives, Executive Director of OMSCS & Online Education, and Zvi Galil PEACE Chair at College of Computing at Georgia Tech
Whether you’re a business leader, L&D executive, or other professional, we offer compelling data and insights for why an outcomes-based skills program is key to succeeding in tomorrow’s workplace.
Discover how to protect academic integrity in the age of AI.
This practical and forward-thinking white paper, written by learning strategy experts at edX, explores how educators can move beyond plagiarism detection to thoughtfully integrate generative AI into teaching and assessment. Packed with actionable strategies, ethical frameworks, and future-focused guidance, it supports institutions in fostering critical thinking, promoting responsible AI use, and preparing students for the evolving world of work. Ideal for academic leaders, instructional designers, and faculty, this resource offers insights to navigate the post-plagiarism era with clarity and confidence.
Key Takeouts:
Understand how generative AI challenges traditional definitions of authorship and originality
Learn strategies to build critical thinking and ethical decision-making skills
Access guiding principles for integrating AI while maintaining academic rigor
Explore frameworks and real-world examples for responsible AI use in coursework
Gain insights into equity, AI literacy, and the limitations of detection tools
Prepare students for AI-driven careers with future-ready, ethical technology skills
Support Your Campus in the AI Era
If you’re an educational institution navigating the rise of AI in the classroom, this resource is for you.
Net Positive: Thriving in a Resource-Constrained World
Article6 min read
Anna Lungley, Head of Sustainability Consulting, Fujitsu
June 19, 2025
For years, businesses have strived for sustainability, aiming to minimise their environmental impact. But what if we could go further? What if companies could contribute more to the planet and society than they take? This is the core concept behind the growing movement towards “Net Positive”.
Net Positive goes far beyond compliance. It’s about actively creating positive impacts that enhance long-term sustainability and contribute meaningfully to societal and environmental well-being, exceeding the negative impacts of business operations. This approach drives cost transformation, strengthens supply chains, builds brand and reputation, and drives innovation. As Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever, and author of Net Positive, states: “It’s the most compelling case in existence for why business and government should tackle climate change and widening inequality.”
But how do organisations know where to start, and what actions to take? That’s the driver behind Fujitsu’s innovative collaboration with Economist Impact to develop the Advancing Net Positive Agenda, including the Net Positive Index (NPI).
What is Fujitsu’s Net Positive Index?
Fujitsu’s Net Positive Index is a comprehensive tool designed to quantify an organisation’s overall impact. It goes beyond traditional Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics by focusing on the net effect – the balance between positive contributions and negative impacts. The index considers a wide range of factors, including:
Social Impact: Promoting fair labour practices, investing in communities, ensuring ethical sourcing, and fostering diversity and inclusion.
Economic Value Creation: Driving innovation, creating jobs, supporting local economies, and ensuring responsible financial management.
By assigning quantifiable values to these factors, the index provides a clear and actionable roadmap for organisations to improve their overall Net Positive score.
Data and Evidence: The Power of Positive Impact
The shift towards Net Positive isn’t just about altruism; it’s a smart business strategy. Studies have shown a strong correlation between sustainability performance and financial success. Companies with robust environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices often outperform their peers in terms of profitability, innovation, and risk management.
For example, a 2020 study by McKinsey found that companies with high ESG scores had a 10% higher valuation multiple than companies with low ESG scores. This highlights the growing investor demand for sustainable businesses. And consumers are increasingly choosing brands that align with their values, driving demand for products and services that contribute to a positive impact.
Case Studies: Net Positive in Action
Leading organisations are already embracing the Net Positive approach. Interface, a global flooring manufacturer, has been a pioneer in this space, striving to create a restorative enterprise that leaves a positive footprint on the planet. Through initiatives like closed-loop manufacturing and carbon-negative products, Interface is demonstrating the potential for businesses to actively regenerate ecosystems.
Another example is Patagonia, a clothing company known for its commitment to environmental activism. Patagonia’s Worn Wear programme encourages customers to repair and recycle their clothing, reducing waste and extending the lifespan of their products. These examples illustrate how businesses can integrate Net Positive principles into their core operations and create a positive impact across their value chains.
These examples demonstrate that Net Positive is not just a theoretical concept; it’s a practical approach that can be implemented across various industries.
The Business and Climate Change: Towards Net Zero Emissions online short course from the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) provides a comprehensive understanding of how to mitigate the business risks of climate change and oversee a transition to net zero emissions for long-term resilience and overall value. Learner will gain insights into the organisational risks and opportunities posed by climate change, and learn to lead a transition to net zero emissions and rewire your business model for long-term value and resilience
Recommendations for Accelerating Your Net Positive Journey
For organisations looking to embrace the approach, here are some recommendations:
Assess Your Current Impact: Use tools like Fujitsu’s NPI to understand your current environmental, social, and economic footprint.
Set Ambitious Goals: Define clear and measurable Net Positive targets that align with your business strategy.
Integrate Sustainability into Your Core Operations: Embed sustainability principles into all aspects of your business, from product design to supply chain management.
Adopt advanced technologies for sustainability: Explore technologies that improve decision-making, optimise supply chains and drive greater efficiency. Implement guidelines for its ethical use.
Build a future-ready workforce: Ensure sustainability responsibilities and opportunities are accessible across your organisation and supply chain while developing a workforce with the skills prepared for evolving challenges.
Transparency and Reporting: Publicly report your progress towards your Net Positive goals to build trust and accountability.
Building the Skills for a Net Positive Future
To accelerate progress towards Net Positive goals, organisations must invest not only in strategy and tools, but in people. During the recent AI for Good: How Businesses Utilise AI for Sustainability webinar, fellow sustainability leaders to explored this critical link. It was highlighted how addressing sustainability challenges requires both technical skills such as data analysis and AI fluency, as well as soft skills such as systems thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving. Empowering employees through targeted upskilling ensures sustainability isn’t siloed, but embedded across all business functions.
An example of this in action is Hydro, one of the world’s largest aluminium companies, which has embedded sustainability into its workforce development strategy. “Driving sustainability by becoming a net‑zero company, protecting biodiversity, and reducing our environmental footprint are key strategic ambitions for us,” says Jeanine Lerdahl, Global Lead Learning at Norsk Hydro. In partnership with edX, Hydro launched a global learning initiative that upskills thousands of employees on key sustainability topics, thereby enabling them to drive innovation, cut emissions, and contribute to long‑term environmental goals. This investment in people ensures sustainability is not just a top‑down mandate, but a shared responsibility across the organisation Read more ›
Conclusion
The journey towards Net Positive is a challenging but rewarding one. By embracing this approach, organisations can not only mitigate their environmental and social risks but also unlock new opportunities for innovation, growth, and long-term success. Fujitsu’s Net Positive Index provides a valuable framework for navigating this journey and building a more sustainable future for all.
Take the first step toward positive impact.
Connect with our team to learn how edX can help your organisation upskill for sustainability and long-term success. Contact us to start the conversation..
With Microsoft’s long-standing commitment to innovation and skills development, these courses provide a practical foundation in AI, helping professionals understand its applications and integrate AI-driven solutions into their work.
Here’s a look at the first courses set to go live in April and the key skills they focus on:
1. Microsoft: Use AI For Everyday Tasks
Learning how to use Gen AI for everyday tasks, understand the basics of writing effective prompts and identify useful prompt resources. Business users will be able to use different AI tools to prompt and build on results, as well as understanding how to use AI ethically.
2. Microsoft: Getting Started with AI Agents in GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot Agents are custom tools embedded in Copilot Extensions that provide additional functionalities tailored to the end users’ needs. Course attendees will take part in a hands-on exercise to build a Copilot extension for a practical developer workflow.
3. Microsoft: Prompt Engineering for Microsoft 365 Copilot
Learning how to write effective AI prompts is an emerging skill. This course teaches practical AI productivity strategies to generate meaningful insights, automate tasks, and enhance collaboration.
Who is this for? Business professionals, knowledge workers, Microsoft 365 users
A foundational course explaining AI in business, its real-world applications, and how companies can adopt AI-powered solutions for efficiency and growth.
Who is this for? Non-technical professionals, managers, executives
AI is increasingly being used to streamline workflows and optimize efficiency. This course highlights practical AI tools that can support better decision-making and automate repetitive tasks.
Who is this for? Professionals looking to improve workplace productivity
Level: Beginner
Duration: ~1 hours
6. Microsoft: Azure AI Fundamentals: Build & Deploy AI
For those looking to deepen their technical understanding, this course provides an introduction to Microsoft Azure’s AI capabilities, guiding learners through building and deploying AI-powered applications.
Who is this for? IT professionals, developers, AI enthusiasts
Level: Beginner
Duration: ~3 hours
More AI Career-Aligned Learning Opportunities Coming Soon
For 50 years, Microsoft has been a leader in technological transformation, and today, AI is the next frontier. Through this collaboration with edX, Microsoft is making AI skills accessible, relevant, and actionable for professionals worldwide. And this is just the beginning—new courses aligned to latest technical careers will continue to roll out, ensuring ongoing learning opportunities for the workforce of tomorrow.
Hallym University case study: Equipping students with in-demand skills
Case Study5 min read
November 5, 2024
Looking to set a new standard in education, leaders at Hallym University partnered with edX to embrace technology and build a new educational framework to meet today’s global demands. By integrating AI-powered teaching tools, diversifying curricula, and leveraging hybrid learning, Hallym pioneered the “K-University Model,” which is already helping both students and teachers succeed.
Challenge: Decreased enrollments, new global standards
Faced with reduced enrollment numbers, leaders at Hallym University decided to adapt their academic model to meet the needs of today’s students by harnessing the power of technology.
Hallym University, located about an hour from Seoul, decided to partner with edX to increase enrollments, embrace new technologies, and offer students an educational model that resonated with international trends. Inspired by the global influence of K-pop and K-drama, Hallym created the “K-University Model”: A powerful new initiative that would offer AI-powered teaching tools and modular courses via a single cutting-edge online platform.
Solution: Educational innovation and AI-powered pilot courses
With the help of edX, Hallym University was able to bring its innovative K-University Model to life, diversify the curriculum, and offer AI-powered courses and teaching tools. Hallym began with a pilot program, introducing AI-powered undergraduate courses in a wide array of subjects, including climate change and urban policy, machine learning, accounting, chemistry, and nano bioengineering. Pilot course subject matter was curated to ensure a balance between STEM and social science disciplines, reflecting the university’s commitment to providing a well-rounded education.
Impact
Hallym’s edX partnership allowed them to strengthen their offerings in several valuable ways, including:
Enhanced accessibility. Hallym University decreased language barriers and increased comprehension by incorporating AI translation tools in course materials so students could select their preferred study language.
Flexible implementation. Seven professors were enlisted to develop the edX-integrated courses, each bringing a unique approach to implementation within the curriculum. Some faculty members used edX content as supplementary learning materials, while others integrated it into required homework for credit. While some professors incorporated edX into pre-study material to prepare students for class discussions, others employed edX tools as post-study material to reinforce key concepts. Thanks to edX’s flexible offerings, both students and professors alike can adapt the tools to suit their educational approach.
Rapid scaling. By leveraging edX’s robust platform, Hallym University was able to rapidly test and scale online learning offerings.
Results: Lessons learned
Impact on faculty: Adapting teaching methods and enhancing pedagogical skills
The edX initiative strengthened faculty teaching skills by equipping them with new tools and approaches for online and in-personal learning. Realizing the huge potential at hand, faculty members observed that integrating online learning materials allowed them to focus more on facilitating in-depth discussions and providing personalized support, rather than delivering standard lectures.
Hemin Choi, Assistant Professor at the Hallym AI Convergence Institute & Graduate School of Global Cooperation, said that junior professors found edX to be a valuable resource for both training and education, helping with everything from curriculum design to course development.
Key insights:
Online resources complement traditional teaching. The flexibility of the edX platform allowed professors to experiment with various teaching methods, such as using edX materials as pre-study resources, supplementary learning tools, or post-study reinforcement. This experimentation gave teachers more pedagogical options and gave them more tools at their disposal for improving engagement.
Senior students excel at hybrid learning. The hybrid model was especially effective for senior students, who were generally more adept at self-directed learning.
Online learning deepened discussions. Faculty members observed that integrating online materials allowed them to focus more on facilitating in-depth discussions and providing personalized support, rather than delivering standard lectures
The pilot program enhanced the pedagogical skills of the faculty, equipping them with new tools and approaches that can be applied to both online and in-person teaching. It also prompted many faculty members to advocate for broader adoption of hybrid learning models across the university.
Impact on students: Fostering self-directed learning and global competence
The flexibility and range offered by the edX platform helped Hallym students to deepen their engagement and understanding across the board. Students benefited from:
More flexibility. edX’s flexible structure allowed students to engage with course materials at their own pace, at times and in settings that were most conducive to their learning.
A global perspective, in a local context. Participation in lectures and assignments that were also available to a global audience gave students a broader understanding of their field of study. Class discussions with peers and professors helped students apply this global content to local issues, helping them develop a well-rounded and nuanced perspective on their studies.
Impact on university administration: Strategic planning and future directions
Within a month of purchasing 100 subscription licenses, the utilization rate reached 100% with its intended users. Of the 190 enrollments, 147 courses were completed by learners. University administration concluded that the AI-powered hybrid learning model not only met the immediate needs of students and faculty but also aligned with the university’s long-term objectives of innovation and global engagement.
The successful integration of edX into the Hallym curriculum provides valuable insights into how modern technology can be leveraged to enhance educational outcomes while helping universities achieve their strategic goals.
This partnership marks a critical step toward Hallym’s goals: To raise the bar for academic excellence and give students the skill sets they need for success.
Last year’s survey explored how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the world of work, from entry-level knowledge workers to CEOs. In our latest research, we assessed how views on this have shifted over the past year and investigated whether AI could support the growing call for more sustainable business practices.
edX and the research firm Workplace Intelligence surveyed 1,800 global knowledge workers and 600 U.S. C-suite executives to gain unique insight into how AI can be used to accelerate corporate sustainability efforts, including environmental, social, and economic. The findings revealed a notable gap between how executives view AI’s role in supporting sustainability and their organization’s current capacity to implement AI for that purpose.
For example, the survey uncovered that a remarkable 75% of C-suite feel their company won’t be able to achieve their sustainability goals without AI. However, 65% acknowledge they “have no idea how” to operationalize AI to support sustainability.
Discover how mastering AI and sustainability skills today can position employees and executives to meet their sustainability and growth goals.
AI is changing the skills we need to learn and how we learn, but not always in the way we expect! At edX we’re hearing that too much choice is overwhelming, with leaders more focused on quality than quantity when it comes to learning. Because of this, learners need and expect more direction. Finally, despite all the innovation, our research suggests that humans still want to learn from and with humans.
Join us for an interesting discussion with the edX Director of Learning Strategy and Lecturer at University of Pennsylvania, and the CEO of HowNow as we make the case for longer-form directed learning in the world of short attention spans.
Speakers:
Kaveh Sadeghian, Director of Learning Strategy at edX and Lecturer at University of Pennsylvania
