Introduction
This article sets out a position statement on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within teaching, learning and assessment. Detailed guidance for both staff and students is provided in the accompanying articles.
Our position
The University Group recognises the potential of AI tools in our teaching, learning and assessment and in the workplaces that our students will be entering. It is therefore important that we support the use of AI tools in a considered and transparent way that also recognises the associated risks. We need to be future-focused and ensure we take advantage of what AI has to offer. One of the most significant advantages of AI is its ability to provide students with a personalised learning experience. AI technologies enable students to access learning materials more quickly and efficiently than ever before, which will support students with assessments. However, whilst taking advantage of what AI has to offer our students, we need to ensure we educate and guide students towards appropriate and ethical use of AI, developing their AI literacy.
It isn’t viable or forward-thinking to enter a blanket ban on AI use, neither is it appropriate to ignore some of the potential risks it poses to academic integrity. We encourage staff to consider how we adapt our teaching, learning, and assessment to make the most of AI in an effective, ethical, and transparent way. At the same time, we must continue to maintain academic integrity otherwise AI misuse, or misunderstanding of use, will only add to the fundamental challenges we face in this endeavour. Whilst we should continue to screen for academic misconduct, we should address the root causes of it, through assessment re-design and developing a culture of academic integrity and AI literacy. Through open discussions with our students about the appropriate and inappropriate uses of AI tools we can harness the power that AI can deliver for our students at University and in the world of work.