Wittenborg’s Approach to AI in Higher Education So Far 

10.10.2024

Ethical Use and Academic Integrity at the Forefront of Wittenborg's AI Strategy

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to shape industries, Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences has taken a proactive approach to integrating AI into its educational framework. Over the past year, the institution has steadily adapted to the opportunities and challenges posed by AI, with a focus on promoting ethical use while maintaining academic integrity.

Rauf Abdul, Head of the School of Business, explained the motivation behind this approach: “Wittenborg was initially motivated to integrate AI into our educational approach due to its growing importance in industry and the necessity to adapt higher education curricula accordingly. It has become an integral part of the modern business landscape, making it essential for our educational system to evolve.”

Ethical AI use and academic integrity

Wittenborg has developed a comprehensive strategy to ensure that AI tools are used responsibly in education. “Our goal is not to control AI usage but to promote it ethically and robustly,” Abdul noted.

A key part of this strategy includes measures to prevent the misuse of AI in academic assessments. “We’ve implemented multiple measures, including tools like Turnitin to detect plagiarism and AI-generated text, as well as conducting oral defences for written assignments,” he added.

Wittenborg has also established a clear Artificial Intelligence Policy that guides students in the use of AI tools, ensuring that advances in technology are balanced with academic integrity. The policy emphasises that while paraphrasing tools can be useful for refining language, the use of AI writing tools in graded assignments is closely regulated. "We’re strict about the AI rate, allowing no more than 40% of AI-generated text in all assignments. Anything higher than 40% will be regarded as misconduct,” explained Dadi Chen, Deputy Head of the School of Business.

Students are required to declare their AI usage through a statement to maintain transparency in their academic work. This policy underscores Wittenborg’s commitment to upholding high standards, as excessive reliance on AI for written work can compromise originality and academic honesty. The goal is to ensure students develop essential skills for their future careers while responsibly navigating the use of AI.

Adapting the curriculum and supporting faculty

Incorporating AI into the curriculum has been a key part of Wittenborg’s AI strategy. “We conducted relevant research and integrated AI into the specialisations and modules,” Chen shared. “We also encourage lecturers to integrate it into their content and pedagogy.” This has led to careful revisions and updates to various programmes, ensuring students are equipped with the skills necessary for an AI-driven future.

While Wittenborg has made significant progress, formal training for faculty remains a priority for the coming year. Workshops are planned for September 2024 to support teachers in integrating AI more effectively into their teaching.

Challenges and opportunities for students and teachers

The transition to AI integration has not been without challenges. Initially, both students and faculty struggled with adapting to the new technologies. “However, with continuous support and clear instructions, both groups are finding it increasingly manageable and beneficial to their learning and teaching processes,” Abdul said.

Chen further highlighted the potential benefits and challenges: “Teachers usually hope students could learn how to use AI smartly and improve their learning. Students benefit a lot from AI in self-exploration but need guidance and training to benefit more in research and design.”

Chen also stressed the limitations of current AI tools: “It’s important to note that current AI is still not ideal in generating accurate information in many ways.”

Lucy Omwoha, Examinations Manager & Senior Lecturer, also emphasised the importance of maintaining integrity in the face of AI advancements: "Any use of AI to complete assignments, projects, or assessments on behalf of students is considered academic malpractice, which is taken seriously."

She highlighted Wittenborg's strict policies to deal accordingly with such violations, ensuring that academic achievements remain genuinely earned and that AI serves as a supportive tool rather than replacing student input.