Adopted by the University Board in the meeting on 19.06.2024, item 53/24
Introduction
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly evolving and becoming increasingly important in society. The University of Agder (UiA) seeks to actively contribute to innovative research and innovation, socially relevant education and effective dissemination that positively impact society. Artificial intelligence is a shared responsibility at UiA, where each individual contributes to shaping a future where technology serves the common good.
With AI, society faces complex ethical, legal, technological, security and environmental dilemmas that require a thoughtful approach. With a strong and clear grounding in UiA's values of openness, trust, academic quality and respect, UiA's employees and students should be aware of these challenges and work actively to develop and implement AI in an ethical manner. Our ambition is to integrate AI in a way that strengthens and enhances the quality of our academic and administrative activities, while maintaining a strong focus on UiA's societal mission to "contribute to environmentally, socially and economically sustainable development" (University and University Colleges Act, 2024, Section 1-1d).
UiA should have an exploratory and critical approach to the use of AI in our core activities of education, research and dissemination. AI can present new opportunities for efficiency and increased value creation and contribute to creativity and innovation in education, research, dissemination and administration. However, AI can also pose significant risks in terms of manipulation and misinformation. Therefore, our employees are encouraged to collaborate within and across disciplines and between academic and administrative staff, enabling us to produce good results and develop valuable services. This ambition requires a culture of dialogue and discussions about best practices for the use of AI, which UiA should facilitate. UiA also wishes to collaborate with relevant actors regionally, nationally and internationally.
Education and teaching
- Students should acquire knowledge about artificial intelligence (AI) and develop the ability to critically reflect on its use. They should be familiar with overarching issues related to AI technology in general, and in society and working life.
- AI knowledge and skills should be integrated into all study programmes to prepare students for their future careers. Students should gain an understanding of how AI can be applied within their field of study.
- UiA should provide clear guidelines for students that enable them to understand the principles and expectations around the use of AI in their academic work and in relation to assessments.
- All academic staff should have sufficient knowledge of AI tools and applications to assess the appropriateness of its use and responsibility for teaching and assessment in their courses.
- Pilot projects and case studies should be conducted to test, evaluate and demonstrate the effects of AI in teaching and assessment, and to identify best practices.
Responsibilities:
The overall responsibility lies with the Vice-Rector for Education and the Academic Affairs Committee. Deans and department heads are facilitators and drivers at an overarching level within the faculties, departments and teacher education programmes. Programme coordinators and heads of studies, course coordinators and subject area leaders in the teacher education programmes are responsible for coordinating and managing opportunities and challenges within each individual study programme.
Research, artistic development work and dissemination
- Critical and knowledge-based use of AI should be promoted to increase the quality, innovation potential and efficiency in research processes, such as data analysis, pattern recognition and simulation. Advantages and disadvantages of using AI systems should be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
- The use of AI in research and artistic development work should follow strict ethical guidelines, especially concerning data integrity and research ethics.
- Guidelines for data security and privacy in AI-driven research and artistic development work must be established to ensure that sensitive data and research participants are protected, and guidance on intellectual property rights should be provided to researchers.
- Procedures for transparency, openness about the use of AI, and accountability in AI-driven research and artistic development work should be established, with clear documentation and reporting of AI methods and results.
- Collaboration and knowledge sharing on AI use in research and artistic development work should be fostered, both internally and with external collaborators and research environments.
Responsibilities:
The overall responsibility lies with the Pro-Rector and the University Research and Innovation Committee. Deans and department heads are facilitators and drivers at an overarching level within faculties, departments and teacher education programmes. Project managers and individual researchers are responsible for coordinating and managing challenges and opportunities within their respective research projects.
Administration and organisation
- The administration should provide support services to facilitate the use of artificial intelligence in education, research and dissemination. The administration should also assess the potential for streamlining and improving the quality of administrative processes.
- All staff should receive targeted training tailored to their specific tasks in teaching, research and administration, to obtain knowledge about AI. All staff should understand the basic information security and ethical issues to ensure that the use of artificial intelligence complies with relevant national and international laws and guidelines.
- High-quality tools with the potential for increasing efficiency should be identified and made available to academic and administrative staff, based on established procurement procedures and security assessments.
- AI tools used at UiA should comply with privacy laws and regulations, and personal and research data should be properly protected. AI systems should be continuously evaluated and updated to ensure the university's needs and standards are met.
- There should be clear channels of communication to inform lecturers, researchers, administrative staff and students about available and approved AI services and tools. Support and guidance for the use of AI tools should be easily accessible to all employees.
- The administration should use approved AI tools where they can help increase the quality and efficiency of support services for students and employees. Pilot projects should be carried out to test, evaluate and demonstrate the effect of AI in the administration, and to identify best practices.
- All employees have a responsibility to help prevent, identify and report any possible risks associated with the use of AI. Employees who identify risk factors or challenges related to the use of an AI tool should report this to their line manager for follow-up.
Responsibilities:
The overall responsibility and portfolio management of AI-driven tools lies with the University Director. The faculty directors are facilitators and drivers within their respective units. In the central services, the division directors are responsible for facilitating within their service area and drivers within their respective units.
Implementation and management
The ambitions and guidelines outlined above should help ensure a responsible and strategic implementation of AI in education, research and administration at UiA. The implementation and management of guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence should be rooted in the institution's management at all levels. Responsibility for establishing practices that ensure compliance with these guidelines is defined along the established organisational lines of responsibility.
AI is a rapidly evolving field, and these ambitions and guidelines should be reviewed annually.