April 10, 2026

Zemina Hasham at Turnitin describes how universities can build workplace-ready AI skills to support UK innovation and competitiveness. 

As AI becomes central to business success and long-term competitiveness, UK organisations are under increasing pressure to build a workforce that can confidently use these technologies.   Skilled graduates should be part of this pipeline. However, a growing disconnect between university training and workplace expectations is making this difficult. 

A global study shows that 58% of employers believe universities are falling short in preparing graduates. And with 54% of organisations now requiring AI skills for all early-career roles, the gap is only widening. 

To better prepare students for work and strengthen a workforce already facing an AI skills shortage, universities need to ensure they are equipping students with the skills required to navigate a rapidly evolving technology landscape.