AI Changes University Preferences
How the School of Philosophy, Law School and other faculties are being upgraded by the introduction of new technologies in the labor market.
After the announcement of the grades in the Panhellenic exams, the formation of admission bases for universities is the most critical phase, with students being called to also take into account the impact of artificial intelligence on the labor market.
The process for submitting the preference forms by candidates of the Panhellenic exams begins, as until today those interested must submit a Preference Form (MD) or Parallel Preference Form (PMD) to their high school to obtain the necessary personal security code. According to the Ministry of Education, the procedures for obtaining a password and electronic submission of forms will remain active approximately until mid-July, while the exact submission period will be announced in the coming days.
In a period when artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the labor market, the choice of school and studies acquires a new dimension for future students. According to experts who spoke to Realnews, new technologies create new opportunities in the professional field. Thus, not only computer science or technology studies are being upgraded, but also the so-called "traditional" schools, such as Law or Philosophy, whose graduates are essential for the development and evolution of artificial intelligence.
Professions
Emeritus Professor of the Athens University of Economics and Business and business consultant, George Doukidis, points out to "R" that "for now, manual labor seems to be less affected by artificial intelligence, while professions that produce intangible content, such as business consultants, lawyers, journalists, programmers, marketing executives, accountants, and architects, are under greater pressure."
G. Doukidis emphasizes, however, that the dominant assessment of experts is not the disappearance of professions but their reshaping. As he explains, artificial intelligence takes over repetitive tasks, allowing professionals to focus on higher value-added skills, such as design, analysis, decision-making, and change management.
"Experts agree that we are probably moving towards a reshaping rather than a replacement of professions," he stresses, adding that university schools are called to adapt their curricula to prepare students for the new work environment.
Referring to the choice of studies, the professor advises candidates to follow the field that truly interests them, as predicting professional developments becomes increasingly difficult. As he notes, "prospective students could choose a university department with a scientific field that excites them and not necessarily their profession." At the same time, he points out that the over 1,200 postgraduate programs currently operating in Greek universities offer significant possibilities for specialization as well as retraining.
"Skills Map"
In the same vein, the academic director of the e-learning programs of artificial intelligence at the University of the Aegean and head of the ICT laboratory "Iron," Thanasis Davalas, moves. As he points out to "R," the preference form is no longer simply a list of schools but a "skills map" for the next decade.
According to him, the World Economic Forum estimates that by 2030, 170 million new roles will be created, while 92 million will be displaced. So, it is not enough to ask "which school has a good name," but "what will my child practically know how to do when they graduate." Law with AI Law, Economics with data analysis, Philology with language models, and administration with AI tools are now very strong combinations.
"The professions affected first are those based on repetitive information processing: data entry, simple translations, basic secretarial support, and standardized reports. This does not mean that humans disappear. The International Labour Organization (ILO) emphasizes that the most likely impact of generative artificial intelligence is the transformation of tasks, not simple replacement. The professions of the future will be hybrid: AI business analyst, digital compliance consultant, data analyst, AI educator, cybersecurity specialist, but also a philologist or lawyer who knows how to control and utilize AI tools," says Th. Davalas to "R."
He places particular emphasis on the importance of natural language in the new digital age. As he mentions, the development of generative artificial intelligence now allows users to communicate with systems using their natural language, a fact that upgrades skills such as syntactic and semantic accuracy.
"With vibe coding, through tools like Claude, our natural language becomes the new programming language," emphasizes the academic director of the e-learning programs of artificial intelligence at the University of the Aegean.
Threat or Opportunity
At the same time, he points out that artificial intelligence changes the way many professions are practiced, shifting the weight from mechanical processes to judgment and strategy. As he mentions, the journalist will spend more time on reporting and cross-checking information, the lawyer on strategy, and the accountant on data analysis.
Th. Davalas considers that the presence of courses in artificial intelligence, data analysis, and digital tools in curricula should be an important criterion for choosing a school. "Parents and students should open the study guide and practically look at four things," he says, explaining that they should examine the existence of relevant courses, laboratories, internships, and connection to the labor market.
Concluding, he sends a clear message to candidates: "Artificial intelligence is a threat to those who remain stagnant and an opportunity for those who continuously learn."
