Northeastern’s Humanics Model Prepares Students for the AI Generation

President Aoun Proposes Northeastern Educational Model for the ‘AI Generation’

Joseph E. Aoun, President of Northeastern University, addressed the role of higher education in preparing students for the “AI Generation” during a keynote at the Johns Hopkins School of Education’s AI Synergy Summit in Washington, D.C.

Aoun emphasized that as artificial intelligence becomes more autonomous, universities must focus on balancing agentic AI—systems making decisions with minimal human input—and human agency. This balance, he noted, should be central to the mission of educational institutions.

Adapting to the AI Generation

Generations before have adapted to technological shifts: Generation X with analog technology and Millennials with digital tools. Now, the new generation faces the rise of artificial intelligence. Aoun called for universities to emphasize lifelong experiential learning while teaching students both the potential and the limitations of AI.

He pointed out a key limitation of AI: “AI doesn’t understand contexts.” To address this, Northeastern promotes an approach called humanics, which integrates three literacies:

• Technological literacy
• Data literacy
• Human literacy

This combination equips students to apply knowledge across different fields and adapt to various challenges.

Northeastern’s Model in Practice

Northeastern’s educational approach supports humanics by leveraging its strengths:

• Experiential learning through co-op programs across 146 countries
• Lifelong learning opportunities on campuses in the US, Canada, and the UK
• Over 200 combined majors that blend different disciplines
• Hiring “professors of practice” — industry experts who bring real-world experience into the classroom

This model encourages adaptability and practical skills, helping students thrive alongside increasingly capable AI systems.

Challenges for Higher Education

Aoun warned that higher education institutions tend to be conservative and slow to change. He said, “We want to change the world, but we don’t want to change ourselves.”

Instead of seeking broad consensus before acting, he encouraged empowering early adopters within academia. These innovators can test new methods, succeed or fail, and set examples for others to follow.

For education professionals looking to prepare students for AI, focusing on innovation and practical learning experiences will be key.

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