Rector’s eNews 20: 25 June 2025

Whilst last week the focus was on the completion of examinations, the Michaelhouse-Hilton events spanning an outstanding evening of music and an eventful day at Hilton, during the course of this week, we have hosted the House Challenge Week which encompasses art, photography, sculpture, debating, interpretive reading, chess, musical composition, solo singing, slam poetry, impromptu speaking, prepared speeches in different languages, a Spud challenge, as well as the all-embracing Inter-House music competition and a variety of Inter-House sporting events such as tennis, padel, squash and hockey. There are also soccer trials which prepare boys for the coming season in the third term. Click here to view the events in which all boys have been encouraged to participate, representing their Houses as they compete for the Todd Cup – a year-long competition – before going off on their mid-year holidays.

Our boys have been extremely busy over the course of this term and since our awards assembly will only take place after the publication of this eNews, further detail in this regard will be announced in the first eNews of next term.

I omitted to mention last Wednesday that Bishop Dino Gabriel, formerly Bishop of Natal and the Visitor to Michaelhouse, who confirmed a number of our boys over several years, sadly died some ten days ago; his funeral was held on Friday in Durban and attended by a large number of well-wishers including our own Chaplain, Reverend Chris Meyer, who represented Michaelhouse.

While Artificial Intelligence has been a topic of research for over 50 years now, the field has been the sole reserve of academia. The release of ChatGPT in November 2022 has seen this exciting technology thrust into main-stream use, and for good reason. The ability of modern AI systems to mimic human-like intelligence and creativity is arguably the biggest shift in technology since the advent of the World Wide Web in the early 1990s. However, the speed at which AI has entered into the zeitgeist is far greater than that of any technology that has gone before. The introduction of AI tools into mainstream use has already seen far-reaching societal implications in areas like business, medicine and innovation.

A small group of Michaelhouse teachers, spearheaded by Mr Dominic Gruijters, Head of IT, and Mrs Win de Wet, Deputy Rector: Academic, have been considering our use of AI within the school environment. Implementing the use of new technologies in business is relatively low risk compared to education where a number of factors need to be considered more exhaustively. In business the goals seem relatively clear: profit, growth and revenue. The metrics for these goals are also relatively easily measurable and immediate. Education, on the other hand, may have loftier and more open-ended goals. The impact of new technology is difficult to assess, and schools sometimes have to wait several years before the effect of these tools can be properly assessed. That said, Michaelhouse boys and staff are already using AI in many spheres. In a recent survey conducted at Michaelhouse over 90% of both boys and staff indicated that they used AI regularly with over 50% of staff and boys indicating that the used AI at least once a week for academic or administrative purposes.

Michaelhouse has an opportunity simultaneously to harness the power of AI to enhance education, promote responsible innovation, and uphold human-centred values. AI needs to be used to support, not replace, student effort or teacher expertise. We hope to guide the safe, ethical, and effective use of Artificial Intelligence at Michaelhouse in support of teaching, learning, and administration. In order to achieve this Michaelhouse is adopting a three-pronged approach to Artificial Intelligence:

1. Education for AI – We aim to prepare students for an AI-rich society by embedding AI literacy into the curriculum, including foundational topics such as machine learning, perception, and ethical use.
2. AI for Education – Michaelhouse will leverage AI tools to enhance teaching and learning, covering both instructional and administrative domains. This includes content creation, personalized learning, and data-driven decision-making.
3. Ethical Considerations – In line with our values we will ensure that we address issues such as data privacy, academic integrity, and algorithmic bias using AI best practices and the widely accepted AI principles of beneficence, autonomy, and explicability.

Much has already been achieved in each of these areas. The curricula for Information Technology and Media Studies now include modules on the use of Artificial Intelligence and this is being expanded into a full curriculum for E Block in 2026. In the coming months all subjects will include application of their existing curricula and content to AI topics such as natural language processing, computer vision and robotics. Various AI tools that specialise in education, such as individualised tutoring systems, are being investigated and staff are being trained in the use of general tools like ChatGPT. Michaelhouse has also undertaken a risk analysis with regard to the deployment of AI tools and issues such as data security, privacy and equal access are being discussed at length.

In a time of such change one truth remains unassailable: real human connection and the building of healthy relationships is at the centre of everything we do at Michaelhouse. The role of humans in shaping men of integrity, compassion, courage, humility and service will never be replaced by AI.

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