Reimagining Curriculum Implementation in Tertiary Institutions in the Era of Artificial Intelligence

Curriculum implementation is a critical process through which the objectives, contents, learning experiences and assessment strategies contained in an approved curriculum are translated into practical teaching and learning activities in tertiary institutions. In many Nigerian tertiary institutions, however, curriculum implementation has continued to rely substantially on manual practices, including physical preparation of instructional materials, face-to-face dissemination of information, manual attendance and record keeping, conventional classroom instruction, paper-based assessment, physical submission of assignments and predominantly teacher-centred pedagogical approaches. Although these practices have supported tertiary education for many years, they are increasingly challenged by large student populations, inadequate infrastructure, shortage of instructional resources, limited funding, inadequate digital competencies among lecturers, unreliable electricity and internet connectivity, bureaucratic procedures, overcrowded classrooms and changing labour-market demands. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) provides opportunities to transform these practices through personalised learning, intelligent tutoring, AI-assisted instructional preparation, digital assessment, data-driven curriculum monitoring, research support and improved access to learning resources. This paper therefore examines the reimagining of curriculum implementation in tertiary institutions in the era of AI. It argues that AI should complement rather than replace lecturers and should be implemented within a human-centred, ethical and inclusive framework. The paper recommends investment in digital infrastructure, continuous professional development of lecturers, integration of AI literacy across disciplines, development of institutional AI policies, flexible curriculum review and equitable access to AI-enabled educational resources.