Coursera study: 91% of students and educators in Saudi Arabia affirm positive impact of AI in higher education
77% recognize the need for the higher education system to evolve its approach to fully integrate AI responsibly, underscoring the importance of AI literacy and ethical guidelines
Coursera, Inc. (NYSE: COUR), a leading global online learning platform, in partnership with international market research consultancy Censuswide, announced findings from a comprehensive nationwide survey assessing the impact of AI on higher education in Saudi Arabia.
This study, part of a broader five-country analysis including Mexico, India, the USA, and the UK, reveals extensive AI integration into academic routines in the Kingdom’s higher education institutions. A strong majority of students and educators (91%) view AI’s impact positively, with 86% of students reporting that their grades have improved since using AI.
Forty-one percent described AI’s impact as “very positive”. Respondents pointed to clear benefits, including personalized learning (43%) and improved quality and rigor of educational assessment (83%).
Among educators, 36% said AI reduces time spent on administrative tasks or planning, allowing for greater one-to-one student interaction. Others highlighted gains included increased productivity and efficiency (33%), and reduced human error in marking and grading, alongside real-time feedback (31%).
The survey shows that students in the Kingdom are using AI across multiple stages of the learning journey, from content creation and research to exam preparation and study planning. Nearly half of students use AI for exam revision (44%) and to generate practice tests or exams (42%), while others rely on it for writing assignments or essays (41%) and supporting research activities (41%). Beyond academic tasks, 38% also use AI for time management, reflecting its growing role in helping students organize and manage their studies more effectively.
Despite this broad adoption and positive outlook, the Coursera study also highlights opportunities for further development and areas needing strategic focus. A substantial 77% of respondents recognize the need for the higher education system to further evolve its frameworks to fully integrate AI.
Respondents pointed to specific areas where higher education systems will need to adapt, particularly by strengthening academic integrity (26%), developing clearer approaches to data privacy (33%), and preserving the long-term value of degrees as AI use becomes more widespread (24%).
This presents an interesting dynamic: while 85% acknowledge AI can support exam preparation, a significant 79% also perceive that using AI for university work raises questions of academic integrity. Respondents emphasized key priorities requiring stronger safeguards, including protecting human interaction and interpersonal skills (33%) and maintaining rigorous quality control in marking and grading (33%).
They also signaled the importance of establishing guidelines to prevent instances of academic misconduct such as plagiarism (31%), addressing potential bias in marking and grading (27%), and preparing for shifts in future job markets (23%).
The data further reveals a high reliance on AI, with 78% of students reporting that they rely on AI to complete between 21% and 70% of their academic work. This reliance, coupled with 81% believing AI will make many degrees obsolete within a decade, underscores an urgent need for universities to embed AI literacy and ethical frameworks to responsibly harness AI’s potential in higher education institutions.
“AI is already part of how students learn and how educators teach across Saudi Arabia’s higher education system, and the data shows significant gains in learning outcomes and efficiency,” said Kais Zribi, Coursera’s General Manager for the Middle East and Africa. “What this research makes clear is that adoption is moving faster than the frameworks needed to support it.
The opportunity now is for institutions to strengthen academic integrity, build AI literacy, and ensure credentials continue to signal real-world readiness. As AI becomes foundational to education and work, collaboration across the education ecosystem is essential to help students and educators develop the skills and judgment needed to use these tools responsibly and effectively.”
