North American reunions

What are the challenges to higher education in the age of ChatGPT? Could Oxford’s tutorial model offer a counterpoint to generative AI? Alumni in the Washington DC area engaged in an animated discussion with the Warden, Robert Hannigan, and our host and stellar facilitator Lissa Muscatine (Politics, 1977), to address some of these timely questions.

Reflecting on Oxford’s role at this watershed moment in the development of generative AI, the Warden pointed to the vital part the tutorial model can play in terms of honing the student’s critical thinking skills. Students can’t hide behind a chatbot essay in a tutorial with a specialist tutor, and this ability to defend a complex set of arguments seems more important than ever.

Lissa supplemented: “How are students going to be prepared for the challenges of this century – from pandemics to disinformation to climate change to rising authoritarianism and even violent effects of AI and other technologies – if they have not had their curiosity piqued, their ideas tested, their imaginations lit, and their inner compasses set through the unique growth that happens intellectually and morally in the tutorial system?”. The debate continued into the night, and it was a great pleasure to catch up with alumni the DC area on a lovely summer evening in Lissa and her husband Brad’s beautiful garden. Alumni in the area already have plans for more regular gatherings, so we will be sharing an update shortly.

Thanks to the wonderful hospitality of Ronnie Stewart (Law, 1962), Wadham alumni in NYC were also able to reconnect with old friends and make new ones up at the elegant University Club on Fifth Avenue. The focus of the conversation was the power of digital solutions to mental health care. We were fortunate that Wadham Fellow Kam Bhui, Professor of Psychiatry, could join us straight from a conference on the West Coast. Prof. Bhui spoke about the monumental challenges to mental health - both in the Western world and in disadvantaged communities globally.

In one of his pioneering UKRI funded research projects, ATTUNE, his group is developing a serious game for young people exposed to adverse childhood experiences. Prof. Bhui emphasized how co-designed digital solutions can support young people from marginalised groups. These permit young people to retain control; access knowledge, support and advice when formal care is in short supply and stigmatising. In many parts of the world, there are not enough clinicians. Even in high-income countries, the thresholds for services are very high; you have to be very unwell or in crisis to receive care. Given a half of people developing mental illness will have signs by the age of 11, and 75% by the age of 24, we must intervene earlier. Digital interventions have great potential as shown by Adam Chekroud's amazing work.

Alumnus and founder Dr. Adam Chekroud (MSc in Neuroscience, 2010), explained how learning about machine learning and psychology – combined with his personal encounter with mental health issues - gave him the idea to create a company based on machine learning technology that could help people make better decisions about personalised mental health treatment. Today, Spring Health is one of the leading mental health platforms, successfully pioneering tailored mental health care for companies and organisations across the US and beyond. Adam Chekroud spoke about the enormous potential for tackling mental health problem early on, and the obvious benefits to people and organisations if severe illness is addressed at the outset.

The Warden and Development Director, Julie Hage, hope to return to North America before long, and will announce further events. Meanwhile, we are always delighted to welcome alumni back to College when you visit the UK, so don’t hesitate to be in touch with the Development Office: development.team@wadham.ox.ac.uk