Artificial intelligence (AI) is already being used in many ways - be it in health apps, as a translation aid or in industrial production processes. Scientists at the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen ( THM ) also make use of AI in research projects or applications. Students are now allowed to use AI under clearly defined conditions for their written term papers or seminar papers as well as bachelor's and master's theses. This regulation does not apply to exams.
The general provisions for bachelor's and master's examination regulations at the THM updated in May, regulate the use.
A working group organized by the THM Central Examination Office, including professors, employees, students and the university library , has developed a modular concept for this purpose. The permissibility of AI applications is specified there. It also makes a recommendation to identify permissible AI-generated content in written exams. This includes clear and easy-to-understand examples and clear instructions in the text and for the sources in the appendix.
The use of the documents is initially limited to one year as a pilot phase. “During this time, we gain experience in how our students can use AI competently, while continuing to learn the classic scientific requirements, such as reflection and further development of complex topics,” explains Vice President Prof. Katja Specht, who is responsible for studying and teaching at the THM is responsible.
The use of AI in written examinations is determined both THM -wide and per course, i.e. module-related. “This means that students, teachers and employees have had transparent and differentiated regulations on the use of AI since spring,” explains Prof. Specht.
University-wide, students are allowed to use AI applications such as ChatGPT or Wolfram Alpha for topic suggestions, ideas and initial structuring and structure drafts. AI can also be used for translations or spell checking.
Teachers can decide for themselves whether students can use AI to research literature and sources as a preliminary step to reading original sources. You are also responsible for allowing students to generate texts, images and graphics using AI. In such cases, the AI-generated content must be identified in the source information.
The regulations will be continuously developed by the responsible AG during the current test run and will be evaluated for the first time in January 2025. “By providing a framework for the use and identification of AI tools in written examinations, we have developed a small beacon in the university world,” says Prof. Specht. In this way, the THM promotes the critical examination of artificial intelligence and enables students to learn how to use it. Competent use of AI during your studies is also important because AI has long since become a part of everyday life and professional practice.