Assessing Artificial Intelligence Readiness of Higher Education Institutions in Chhattisgarh: A Study of Faculty and Students

The research measured the readiness of faculty and students of higher education institutions (HEIs) in Chhattisgarh, India in terms of five dimensions: awareness of AI, technical skills, digital infrastructure, policy and institutional support, and attitude toward AI. The data was collected from four types of institutions, through a cross-sectional survey design with the help of stratified sampling technique with 440 respondents consisting of 120 faculty members and 320 students. An overall Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index (ARI) was calculated using a 5-point scale. Readiness was moderate (M = 3.24, SD = 0.45): attitude and awareness and infrastructure and institutional policy were the highest and the lowest scores respectively. Students performed significantly higher than faculty on the ARI, t (205) = 5.41, p < .001, and the readiness differed by institution type, F(3, 436) = 16.0, p < .001, with government colleges being the lowest. The results showed that 62.7% of the variance of attitude towards AI could be accounted for by awareness, skills, infrastructure and policy support. The results highlight an infrastructure-governance gap as a more likely cause than a motivation gap, and suggestions are provided on paths forward for state policymakers and institutional leaders. Note: The data analysed in this draft are illustrative (simulated) and must be replaced by actual survey responses prior to submission and/or publication.