KIC – Artificial Intelligence on Campus
Software applications like ChatGPT, ResearchRabbit, and GitHub Copilot, which rely on generative artificial intelligence, are increasingly being adopted by both lecturers and students. Universities find themselves caught between excitement and concern. However, there is still a significant lack of empirical data to support strategic decisions. Currently, a survey at HSRW is being evaluated to assess the use and perception of AI, aiming to help establish this empirical foundation.
A key finding from the KIC survey reveals that lecturers tend to favor simpler AI tools over more complex or highly sophisticated ones, using these tools across all three surveyed areas, including the preparation and review of exams.
The KIC study aims to fill several research gaps. It offers a detailed look at how AI tools are currently being used and perceived by both lecturers and students at HSRW, a university with a strong international focus, where 70 percent of programs are taught in English. The survey, conducted in July 2024, covered a wide range of AI tools tailored to the specific needs of lecturers and learners. It was conducted pseudonymously, ensuring that participants' responses could be linked to socio-demographic data while adhering to data protection guidelines.
The study is based on a technology acceptance model, allowing researchers to examine the influence of factors such as perceived usefulness and social expectations on AI usage.
An evaluation of the data will be published in 2025 in an edited volume on learning analytics, artificial intelligence and data mining in higher education, edited by Robert Queckenberg, Jonas Leschke and Malte Persike. A follow-up survey is being planned, with an extension to other universities in mind.