Universities must adopt modern technology, ensure responsible use of AI: Education Experts

Education experts have stressed that universities must adopt modern technology while ensuring responsible, ethical and effective use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve the quality of higher education and protect academic integrity and educational values.
The remarks were made at a Vice Chancellors’ Roundtable Discussion organized by Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) under the five-day 29th Sustainable Development Goals Conference arranged by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).
The roundtable was attended by Vice Chancellors and heads of various universities across the country, educationists and international experts.
Speakers said Artificial Intelligence has opened new avenues in the higher education sector and universities can significantly improve academic standards, research output and students’ learning capabilities by effectively using it in teaching, research and administrative affairs.
However, they emphasized that ethical principles, transparency, accountability and academic honesty must be given top priority while using this technology.
Participants were of the view that AI should serve as a supporting tool for teachers and students, not as a substitute for human thinking, creativity and intellectual effort. They warned that excessive dependence on AI could affect students’ independent thinking and research abilities, therefore universities need to formulate clear policies and guidelines for its appropriate and responsible use.
The experts termed teachers’ training in line with modern requirements, curriculum reforms, improvement in research facilities and promotion of digital skills among students as indispensable. They said fostering critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving skills and awareness of ethical use of technology among students is the need of the hour.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor of Allama Iqbal Open University, Prof. Dr. Nasir Mahmood, said that Artificial Intelligence is playing an important role in making the distance education system more effective and students are being provided with better academic support through it. However, he stressed that ensuring responsible and ethical use of AI is essential to protect academic integrity, creative thinking and educational values alongside benefiting from technology.
The roundtable discussion was attended by Executive Director of SDPI Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Vice Chancellor AIOU Prof. Dr. Nasir Mahmood, Vice Chancellor Beaconhouse National University Dr. Moeed Yusuf, Rector Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology Prof. Dr. Fazal Ahmad Khalid, Dr. Aneel Salman from Islamabad Policy Research Institute, Vice Chancellor Fatima Jinnah Women University Prof. Dr. Bushra Mirza, Vice Chancellor University of Sindh Prof. Dr. Fateh Muhammad Mari, Prof. Dr. Aneela Kamal from Women University Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Prof. Dr. Mustansar Ali Aznfar from University of East London, UK (online), while the session was moderated by Dr. Fareeha Armughan.