Dear Students,
In today’s academic environment, we encounter with increasing frequency advanced tools based on artificial intelligence (AI) that make it easier for us to create texts, codes, audiovisual works, and other materials according to our ideas and needs, and these tools are becoming increasingly available. We would like to recommend that you learn to work efficiently with these tools and to use them properly, because this can open doors to many opportunities in the future, both in your professional and personal life.
However, it should be emphasized that the main goal of independent work is to nurture creative and critical thinking, two elements that are key competencies for succeeding in your field of study and in life in general. These competencies primarily include the ability to formulate one’s own hypotheses, to search for and correctly use relevant information sources, to carry out one’s own analyses and interpretations, to argue one’s own conclusions, and to apply theoretical knowledge to practical issues in the broader context of an area of study.
Hence, use AI tools prudently, and above all, to develop skills relating to your studies.
The objective of these recommendations is to formulate Basic Principles for the ethical, creative, sustainable, and safe use of AI
in an academic environment
The use of AI tools must be consistent with the principles of academic and personal and moral integrity (including, for example, adherence to ethical principles and honest behaviour in relation to your work, studies, and interpersonal interactions, objectivity, proper citation of sources, and respect for intellectual property in research, studies, and scientific communication). Be open and honest in your communication with educators about your use of AI tools, and openly declare and cite all resources and technologies used in order to provide the complete context for your own work. If an instructor, supervisor, or faculty does not recommend the use of AI tools in justified cases, respect their decision.
Always carefully review and critically evaluate information obtained through AI to ensure that it is reliable, accurate, and relevant in the context of your own work. Be aware that results generated by AI tools may be misleading, erroneous, based on stereotypes or prejudices, or discriminatory. Remember that the use of any results generated by AI is always the responsibility of the author of the work.
We support and encourage the responsible use of AI tools. Moreover, in keeping with the goals of independent work and academic principles, we expect you not to use AI tools as a complete substitute for independent work or your own efforts in creating academic work. First and foremost, use AI tools as a supplemental means to support your own creativity, thinking, and problem-solving skills, while appropriately combining these tools with your own knowledge gained during your studies. Actively educate yourself on the capabilities and limitations of AI tools on a continual basis so that you are able to recognize situations in which their use is appropriate and when it may conflict with academic principles. Please keep in mind that when evaluating your work, instructors will increasingly focus on demonstrating clear knowledge of topics, a sufficiently deep understanding of the issues at hand, and the ability to carry out high-quality thematic discussions.
When using AI tools, you also agree to the terms of their providers. If you provide AI tools with personal data or sensitive information, be aware that it can be accessed by unauthorized persons and misused.
Even educators are just discovering how to best use AI tools and are getting to know their possibilities and limitations. They may have concerns or questions about their use in teaching and assessing student work. Be responsive and patient in dialogues with educators regarding the use of AI tools. Share with them your experiences and insights from working with AI and be prepared to discuss together the positive and negative aspects of their use. Cooperating with educators and sharing information can help you better understand their expectations and improve the quality of your education.
Finally, we would like to emphasize that AI is only one of many tools at your disposal during your studies. The key to success is finding a balance between using AI and developing your own skills and abilities. Don’t forget that the main goal of your studies is to become independent, competent, and critical thinking professionals – and no AI-based tool can make this happen for you. It is important to understand that society and your fields of study are constantly changing as a result of AI development. Thus, it is crucial to actively discuss and think about the effects of AI on your field, your own future, and the future of society. We believe that, with a responsible approach to AI while adhering to academic principles, you will be successful in your studies and your future career.
We wish you much success in your studies and working with AI tools!
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS (.pdf)
