in Higher Education
Join a global community of academic pioneers moving beyond instructional practice to become strategic change agents. This fellowship supports those who are thoughtfully integrating AI to advance research and discovery while elevating the student experience.
Showcase and grow your expertise
As a Higher Ed Faculty AI Fellow, you will be uniquely positioned to shape the future of responsible AI through strategic leadership and institutional transformation. Become an Ambassador, guiding your peers and the academic community through the evolving landscape of higher education.
How you’ll make a difference
As pioneers of AI, fellows are empowered to champion innovation not only for their institution, but also for higher education at large.
Lead institutional transformation
Gain a prestigious platform to address the most pressing AI challenges at your institution – from evolving assessment models to establishing governance frameworks.
Amplify your professional impact
Join an exclusive global network of pioneers like you to investigate the systemic impact of AI on higher education.
Institutional impact
Master advanced skills and tools to enhance your instructional practice. Leverage collective insights to lead innovation and ensure your campus remains at the forefront of education.
Fellowship timeline
Applications for our 2026 inaugural cohort are now open. Find out how to apply for the fellowship and review key program dates and deadlines below
Apply for fellowship in 4 steps
The Fellowship cohort is selected through a highly curated process designed for faculty already pioneering AI in their disciplines and research.
Explore more fellowships and communities
Learn about more opportunities to learn and collaborate with education professionals from all roles and experience levels.
Find answers to common questions about the Google Higher Ed Faculty AI Fellowship
The Google Higher Ed Faculty AI Fellowship is an elite professional development program for university professors, researchers, and academic leaders who are actively integrating artificial intelligence into their teaching, academic research, and institutional workflows. The program connects fellows into a global network focused on scaling responsible AI adoption and improving student outcomes across higher education.
The fellowship is open to current higher education faculty members who are implementing AI technologies within their classrooms, research projects, or university initiatives. Qualified applicants must demonstrate a proven track record of AI-driven educational innovation and a clear commitment to teaching responsible AI ethics.
To apply for the fellowship, candidates must submit the following components:
- A Portfolio of Innovation: A curated collection of digital links, academic publications, research projects, or course syllabi demonstrating your active use of AI.
- An Impact Challenge Proposal: A breakdown of how your AI initiatives improve learning outcomes, streamline research, or optimize institutional strategy.
- A Short Video Introduction: A mandatory 90-second video submission (detailed below).
Selected AI Fellows receive the following institutional and professional benefits:
- Global networking: Direct access to an international community of academic innovators, university administrators, and tech experts.
- Thought leadership: Dedicated platforms to showcase your AI research, speak at events, and publish your findings.
- Transformation resources: Specialized tools, insights, and peer-collaborative workshops to help you lead AI policy and curriculum design at your home institution.
Yes. All applicants must submit a 90-second video introduction. In this video, you must introduce yourself, share your long-term vision for artificial intelligence in higher education, outline your current AI adoption strategies, and explain how you plan to advocate for responsible, equitable AI use on campus.
The impact challenge is a core problem or operational hurdle within your university or teaching practice that you pledge to solve using AI during your fellowship tenure. Examples of eligible challenges include designing AI-driven grading rubrics, updating academic integrity policies, or building specialized AI literacy courses.
Google encourages applicants to target institutional pain points where machine learning can drive systemic change. Recommended focus areas include:
- Assessment & evaluation: Using AI to scale personalized feedback and modern grading frameworks.
- Policy & ethics: Developing campus-wide guidelines for responsible AI use and data privacy.
- Curriculum design: Building new course structures that integrate AI tools across diverse academic disciplines.
- Student outcomes & literacy: Deploying AI assistants (like Gemini and Gemini Notebook) to boost graduation rates, student retention, and digital literacy.
While participation in the fellowship program is free, Google does not provide a travel stipend. Selected Faculty Fellows must self-fund all personal travel, hotel accommodations, campus parking, and any auxiliary meals outside of the official scheduled group dining events during the in-person convening.