7^th International Research Symposium in Humanities and Social Sciences (IRSHSS) 2025

National Center for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences

30^th – 31^st October 2025

AI in Higher Education: Prospects and Challenges

Background and Rationale

The rapid evolution of technology—driven most visibly by breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence (AI)—is reshaping higher education worldwide, with Sri Lanka deeply implicated in this transformation. Intelligent tutoring systems, adaptive learning platforms, AI‑supported teaching tools, and institution‑wide administrative applications have already begun to streamline operations, personalize learning, and foster innovative pedagogies.

Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT, Gemini AI, and Copilot exemplify AI’s potential to disrupt conventional educational practices. These tools facilitate real‑time writing support, discipline‑specific research assistance, curriculum design, and data‑driven decision‑making. Yet, alongside these benefits emerge pressing concerns: academic integrity, research ethics, data privacy, algorithmic bias, unequal access to infrastructure, and the urgent need for AI literacy among educators and students.

Against this backdrop, the 7ᵗʰ International Symposium on Humanities and Social Sciences (IRSHSS) 2025 seeks to provide a vibrant forum for scholars, practitioners, technologists, and policymakers to interrogate AI’s multifaceted impact on higher education. The conference will enable participants to share empirical findings, compare regional approaches, and collaboratively chart pathways toward inclusive, ethical, and sustainable AI integration that enhances institutional Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Objectives

• Map Current & Emerging Roles of AI in Teaching, Learning, Research, and Administration within Higher‑Education Institutions.
• Promote responsible use of AI, foregrounding ethics, academic honesty, data protection, and transparency in algorithmic decision‑making.
• Facilitate stakeholder collaboration to ensure equitable access and inclusive adoption of AI across diverse cultural and economic contexts.
• Showcase effective practice through case studies that demonstrate pedagogically sound and institutionally efficient AI applications.
• Develop guiding standards for sustainable, context‑sensitive AI strategies that strengthen educational quality and integrity.

Symposium Themes

Submissions may address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• AI‑Enhanced Teaching & Learning: innovations, adaptive pedagogies, and student engagement.
• Curriculum Design & Academic Advising: AI‑supported modelling, personal‑learning pathways, and skills forecasting.
• Research, Writing, and Scholarly Communication: AI tools for literature review, data analysis, and knowledge dissemination.
• Data Bias & Privacy: challenges and mitigation strategies in AI‑driven educational environments.
• Implementation Case Studies: successes and obstacles across varied cultural, economic, and institutional settings.
• Policy & Governance: regulatory frameworks, quality assurance, and institutional readiness for AI adoption.
• Inclusive Education: leveraging AI to bridge access gaps and support learners with diverse needs.
• Strategic Planning & Support Services: AI as both a challenge and an opportunity for educational leadership.

Call for Extended Abstracts

The National Centre for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (NCAS) invites researchers, scholars, practitioners, and graduate students to submit extended abstracts (1000–1500 words) or workshop/panel proposals that align with the above themes. Interdisciplinary and innovative contributions are especially welcome.

Guidelines for Submission of Extended Abstracts

• The abstract must present original research.
• The given template should be used (see below).
• The extended abstract should strictly cover the following:
• Introduction to the Study
• Methods and Methodology
• Research Findings and Discussion
• 4 – 8 keywords (in italics)
• Selected References (Maximum 10- using Harvard Referencing) and follow in-text referencing throughout the paper. (https://www.dkit.ie/library/library-supports/guide-to-harvard-referencing.html)
• The abstract should be coherent and devoid of any language errors.
• Font: Times New Roman, size 11 with 1.5 spacing on A4 size paper.
• Number of words: 1000-1500 excluding Keywords and References.
• Provide the name, email, telephone of the corresponding author in the email content.
• The sub-theme (listed above) under which the abstract is submitted, should be indicated in the space provided.

        Abstracts that do not follow the above guidelines will be rejected

Please use the following template for submission of the Extended Abstracts:

Email the Extended abstracts to symposium2025@ncas.ac.lk on or before 14.07.2025.

For more details, visit https://www.ncas.ac.lk/symposium2025

Key Dates

• Call for abstracts                                               – 20.06 2025 – 14.07.2025
• Reviewing of Abstracts                                     – 15.07.2025 – 14.08.2025
• Notification of Acceptance/ revisions           – 15.08.2025 – 30.08.2025
• Acceptance of revised/ updated abstracts   – 01.09.2025 – 15.09.2025

The accepted extended abstracts will be presented at the Symposium and published in the Symposium Proceedings.

Selected full papers at the Symposium will be published in Sri Lanka Journal of Advanced Research Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (SLJARHSS- a peer‑reviewed  Journal- accredited by Sri Lanka journals online – https://sljol.info/)

Registration of Symposium Participants:

• Early Bird Registration            Rs. 3000/-
• Registration                               Rs. 5000/-
• Overseas Participants             50USD

Contact

For inquiries, please contact:

              IRSHSS 2025 Secretariat,

              National Centre for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (NCAS)

                           E‑mail: symposium2025@ncas.ac.lk

                           Phone: +94 707507700 (also available through WhatsApp)

                           Symposium Co-Chair: Dr. Sampath Chandrasena: +94 712416533 (also available through WhatsApp)

                           Symposium Chair: Professor (Mrs.) Prashanthi Narangoda: +94 714929621 (also available through WhatsApp)

We look forward to welcoming you to Colombo for IRSHSS 2025 and to engaging in meaningful dialogue on the prospects and challenges of AI in higher education.