Sherri Harvey was a 2025 Fulbright Specialist at the University of Halu Oleo, Southeast Sulawesi, working with the Department of Language and Literature.

When the use of AI in academic environment still invites debates, the Department of Language and Literature, Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Halu Oleo, and Sherri Harvey, lecturer at San José State University and Foothill College in the US, successfully completed their Fulbright Specialist Project on the use of AI in higher education curriculum to strengthen critical thinking, academic writing, and digital literacy. The project ran from October 4 to November 2, 2025.

“My goals for working with the Language and Literature Department focused on two factors: to help update the English Literature curriculum by integrating AI and digital literacy, and to mentor faculty as they work toward international publication”, Sherri said.

The project unfolded through a series of interconnected activities that drew enthusiastic participation from students, lecturers, and even a local school. The highlight was the 3rd International Seminar on Language, Literature, Culture, and Education (ISLLCE 2025), at which Harvey delivered a keynote address titled “Reimagining Language, Literature, Culture, and Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” Her talk invited educators and students to reflect on AI not as a threat to human creativity, but as a collaborative partner that can inspire deeper inquiry and ethical awareness.

Sherri also mentored faculty in the academic publishing process. Through the workshop on AI in Academic Publishing and several follow-up meetings, they discussed practical strategies for overcoming common barriers in the writing and submission process. She provided feedback on individual research ideas and shared tools that could support academic writing and revision, particularly for multilingual scholars.

“One of the most significant outcomes of this project was helping faculty gain confidence in their ability to publish in English-language journals,” Sherri said.

Dr. Rasiah also supported this statement from Halu Oleo University.

“These sessions equipped faculty members with practical tools to use AI ethically and critically in research and teaching,” Dr. Rasiah stated.

Harvey also conducted guest lectures in courses such as Literary Criticism, Academic Writing, Creative Writing, and English as a Foreign Language (EFL), engaging students in discussions about AI-assisted creativity and digital ethics. Her outreach extended beyond campus: she collaborated with high school students at SMAN 4 Kendari. She visited Muna Island and Padeleura Utama—North Konawe—to promote digital literacy and responsible AI usage in broader educational and cultural settings.

While the curriculum redesign discussions could not be fully realized due to time constraints, the groundwork has been laid for future collaboration. Plans for virtual mentoring sessions and joint publication initiatives are already underway, ensuring that the project’s impact continues beyond her visit.