Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially Generative AI (GenAI), is transforming education by creating new opportunities as well as ethical challenges. In Higher Education (HE), the integration of GenAI raises significant issues around privacy, equity, academic integrity, and the necessity for ethical frameworks. UNESCO's AI Competency Framework for Students (AI CFS) serves as a global reference for nurturing responsible digital citizenship. This research aims to explore how the AI CFS can be effectively contextualized within HE curricula to encourage ethical and responsible AI use among university students. The study utilizes a participatory and polycentric approach within two culturally diverse institutions: Radboud University in the Netherlands and the University of Verona in Italy. A mixed-method research design is implemented, consisting of two phases. The first phase involves a systematic literature review and a phenomenological study, examining students' current usage of GenAI and their ethical perceptions through surveys and semi-structured interviews. The second phase designs course activities that align student experiences with the goals of the AI CFS, evaluated using pre- and posttests based on Kirkpatrick's model. Preliminary findings reveal that 87% of Radboud University students utilize GenAI academically, although most regard their understanding of ethical AI and human-centered design as moderate at best. The study aims to foster digital citizenship by connecting global GenAI competencies with local educational practices, anticipating outcomes such as contextual guidelines, best practices, and refinements to the AI CFS. The research underscores the importance of culture, education, and ethical considerations in promoting responsible GenAI adoption in the post-digital era. By integrating contextualized practices and enhancing critical judgment, it envisions a future where education empowers students to collaboratively create sustainable and inclusive societies within an AI-enhanced landscape.
Bridging Global (Gen)AI Competencies and Contextual Practices: Cultivating Ethical Digital Citizenship in Higher Education
Cristiana Dell'Erba
2025-01-01
Abstract
Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially Generative AI (GenAI), is transforming education by creating new opportunities as well as ethical challenges. In Higher Education (HE), the integration of GenAI raises significant issues around privacy, equity, academic integrity, and the necessity for ethical frameworks. UNESCO's AI Competency Framework for Students (AI CFS) serves as a global reference for nurturing responsible digital citizenship. This research aims to explore how the AI CFS can be effectively contextualized within HE curricula to encourage ethical and responsible AI use among university students. The study utilizes a participatory and polycentric approach within two culturally diverse institutions: Radboud University in the Netherlands and the University of Verona in Italy. A mixed-method research design is implemented, consisting of two phases. The first phase involves a systematic literature review and a phenomenological study, examining students' current usage of GenAI and their ethical perceptions through surveys and semi-structured interviews. The second phase designs course activities that align student experiences with the goals of the AI CFS, evaluated using pre- and posttests based on Kirkpatrick's model. Preliminary findings reveal that 87% of Radboud University students utilize GenAI academically, although most regard their understanding of ethical AI and human-centered design as moderate at best. The study aims to foster digital citizenship by connecting global GenAI competencies with local educational practices, anticipating outcomes such as contextual guidelines, best practices, and refinements to the AI CFS. The research underscores the importance of culture, education, and ethical considerations in promoting responsible GenAI adoption in the post-digital era. By integrating contextualized practices and enhancing critical judgment, it envisions a future where education empowers students to collaboratively create sustainable and inclusive societies within an AI-enhanced landscape.
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