The Challenge

The emergence of Generative AI (Gen AI) has set the stage for a profound transformation in higher education, reshaping traditional models of learning, teaching, and institutional processes. As AI capabilities expand, educators, learners, and academic institutions must adapt to their advantages and challenges.

Many educators feel unprepared to navigate this paradigm shift, as traditional pedagogical frameworks and assessment methods are increasingly misaligned with GenAI's capabilities. Balancing the integration of AI as a legitimate educational aid while preserving the authenticity of student learning outcomes has become a critical issue. Several universities have responded by either incorporating GenAI policies into existing academic integrity policies or adopting fresh ones where they have either imposed a blanket ban on the use of GenAI tools or prescribed a graded approach with either the onus on students to disclose the use of such tools or on departments to notify policy of use.

However, these responses often fail to address GenAI's nuanced challenges. While aiming to preserve academic integrity, blanket bans on AI tools risk alienating students who see them as integral to modern learning and professional environments. Such measures may inadvertently stifle innovation and fail to prepare students for real-world scenarios in which AI will play a central role. Conversely, policies that rely on student disclosure or departmental oversight may lack consistency, leaving both students and educators uncertain about acceptable practices and expectations.

Our Initiative

This student-led initiative tackles these challenges, equipping students and educators with strategies to adapt to this new reality and fostering an academic culture where AI complements, rather than replaces, human intellectual effort.

The initiative enables cross-institutional dialogue culminating in a publicly accessible white paper, a policy guide for educators and a digital toolkit for learners, offering actionable insights and strategies for educational institutions while navigating the post-Generative AI landscape.

This project is funded by the Civica Student Engagement Fund.

CIVICA Institutions Involved

• Central European University, Vienna

• London School of Economics, London

Project Outputs

Policy Guide for Educators and Toolkit for Students