BUV pioneers educational innovation in the age of AI

From allowing students to utilize AI (Artificial Intelligence) in their learning and assessments to publishing several scientific studies and training school leaders and officials in Hanoi on AI applications in teaching, British University Vietnam (BUV) has been at the forefront of enhancing the role of AI in educational innovation. 

Generative AI (GenAI) technology is becoming increasingly sophisticated, evident in the emergence and development of applications such as ChatGPT and Midjourney, which facilitate creative text, image, and video creation, expediting the transformation of ideas into reality. In education, these tasks may greatly accelerate the learning, absorption, and knowledge development process. Recognizing the vast potential of GenAI, with an unwavering spirit of continuous innovation, BUV has officially integrated AI tools into the classrooms, aiming to train generations of students to be proficient in AI to support academic pursuits and responsibly research AI applications. 

Pioneering the allowance of AI usage by students in academics 

Differing from some perspectives that prohibit AI usage in academia, BUV advocates and guides students to utilize AI to optimize productivity and efficiency in their learning and assessments. This innovation provides BUV students with flexible and multidimensional access to issues thanks to the application of artificial intelligence tools. 

BUV students are allowed to use AI in assessments across five levels, from no AI assistance to full AI tool utilization. Dr. Mike Perkins, Head of the BUV Centre for Research and Innovation (CRI), provides detailed guidance and suggestions to help students understand which tasks can benefit from AI usage or propose which AI tools to employ. 

BUV pioneers the allowance of AI usage by students in academics 

After several semesters of implementation, students conducting research with AI support produce higher-quality work compared to traditional methods. Students also respond positively, embracing the training program and yielding improved academic engagement and outcomes. 

BUV and the goal of leading AI application in education 

Understanding AI’s potential in shaping the future of education, BUV aims to be a leading institution in promoting active engagement and supporting responsible AI usage in teaching and learning activities. 

Facing the challenges of AI misuse and the question of how to use AI transparently and effectively, senior faculty members of BUV, in collaboration with faculty from other universities, have conducted numerous studies to clarify and guide solutions for each issue. Notable among these is the research “Navigating the Generative AI Era: Introducing the AI Assessment Scale for Ethical GenAI Assessment,” identifying opportunities and challenges that GenAI tools bring to education, thereby constructing a simple and comprehensive AI Assessment Scale enabling the integration of GenAI tools into tests and assessments. 

BUV students are encouraged and guided to use AI tools flexibly and responsibly within the framework of the AI Assessment Scale. 

On the evolving educational context alongside technology, Dr. Mike Perkins has written about the benefits, challenges, and necessity of modifying institutional policies to align with technological advancements. In his article, Dr. Perkins argues against banning students from using AI in academics, as it is not a sign of cheating; what matters is students’ transparency regarding AI usage. 

Dr. Mike Perkins’ article “Academic Integrity considerations of AI Large Language Models in the post-pandemic era: ChatGPT and beyond” received the “Most Influential Research” award from the Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice in 2023. 

In addition to research and AI application activities in education at the university, BUV also strengthens collaboration with entities such as the Hanoi Department of Education and Training and the British Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (BritCham) to expand AI applications across industries and sectors. At the training session for 1200 school leaders and officials from the Hanoi Department of Education and Training held in late 2023, BUV lecturers shared insights into digitization in education and the application of GenAI tools. Discussion sessions at the training focused on practical approaches to integrating GenAI tools into teaching methods and policy planning, contributing to Vietnam’s development in this field. 

Dr. Mike Perkins shares insights on Artificial Intelligence in education at the training session for school leaders and officials from the Hanoi Department of Education and Training. 

The online seminar on “Sustainable and Ethical Use of Generative AI in Education” organized by CRI and BritCham, highlighted that instead of viewing AI as a form of “cheating”, judicious use of this tool may greatly enhance educational outcomes, becoming an essential part of learning, teaching, and preparing students for a technology-driven future. 

With prominent research and achievements, BUV is committed to leading the application of AI in innovating Vietnam’s education, especially in the digital age. Professor Rick Bennett, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at BUV, emphasizes, “Through remarkable research results on the effectiveness of AI in education, we want to emphasize that BUV acknowledges AI as a potential learning support tool while aiming to train multiple generations of students to proficiently use new technologies ethically and responsibly; thereby fostering a generation with unique skills to thrive in an ever-changing world.”