At ESSEC, AI Enhances the Educational Experience

Since being founded, ESSEC Business School has cultivated pedagogical innovation, continuously integrating emerging technologies to enrich the learning experience. In a world where data and artificial intelligence are transforming management careers and, more broadly, society, ESSEC has chosen to leverage these technologies as strategic tools to support its educational mission. The aim is to harness the power of data and algorithms to enhance learning, without ever diminishing the central role of professors.

Today, AI is already helping to prevent student disengagement in several programs, including the Global BBA and the Master in Management. By analyzing data from the online learning platform such as assignment submission rates, login frequency, and online participation, an algorithm detects early signs of disengagement.

"By aggregating all the data from student interactions, we gain a much more detailed view of their involvement. AI allows us to identify potential dropout risks before the student even realizes it. This is not about surveillance, but about anticipation: it provides professors with concrete tools to intervene earlier and more effectively, without ever replacing their central role in student support," explains Ahmed Jerbi, Director of Data and AI at ESSEC Business School.

However, personalizing learning is not enough. It is also essential to equip students with the tools to navigate an information environment increasingly shaped by generative AIs. Through a range of services and support, the K-lab plays a central role in developing information and digital literacy skills, which are critical for making informed and responsible use of tools like ChatGPT or Midjourney.

Through dedicated workshops, students learn how to craft effective prompts, evaluate the reliability of AI-generated responses, understand algorithmic biases, and address ethical and environmental concerns—skills that have become essential in a world where the boundary between technological assistance and plagiarism is increasingly blurred.

"The issue is not just learning how to use these tools but understanding when, why, and how to use them responsibly," explains Jérémy Savey, Training Coordinator at the K-lab.

The K-lab also supports professors by providing:

Tools to help detect AI usage in student work
Best practice guides for integrating AI into their teaching effectively

“As an actor in pedagogical innovation, the K-lab has fully embraced artificial intelligence in its mission to support the transformation of teaching and learning practices. Training for the responsible use of these technologies while experimenting with approaches like adaptive learning places innovation at the heart of the ESSEC educational experience,” emphasizes Sophie Magnanou.

At ESSEC, artificial intelligence is part of a continuous improvement process aimed at enhancing the learning experience, relying on the human expertise of professors and personalized student support. Far from a one-size-fits-all model, the pedagogy of tomorrow will be adaptive, critical, and profoundly human.