The University is committed to inclusive, ethical and trustworthy use of AI. We believe AI should be adopted deliberately and responsibly, ensuring equity, transparency and accountability across our community.
The AI Principles and Framework set out clear responsibilities for all staff and students when choosing to use AI. They define expectations for ethical, transparent and inclusive practices, ensuring that use of AI supports academic integrity, complies with legal standards and reflects our commitment to responsible innovation.
The AI Principles encompass and build upon previous guidance for education and research. They are informed by key external frameworks that have been endorsed by the University, including the European Commission’s Living guidelines on the responsible use of generative AI in research, OECD AI Principles, Scottish AI Alliance and the Scottish Tertiary Education statement on the use of Gen AI.
- 1. Equitable, Inclusive and Enabling
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When using AI it must be used in ways that are fair and inclusive, ensuring no group is disadvantaged and everyone in our community can benefit from AI-enabled services.
- 2. Approved, Reliable and Safe
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We recommend the use of institutionally approved AI tools. When using other tools, staff and students should assess whether their intended use is safe and appropriate by identifying any potential risks.
- 3. Open, Transparent and Trusted
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Staff and students should be open about their use of AI, clearly disclosing usage in teaching, learning and research and keep records that enable others to understand and, where necessary, challenge AI-generated content and decisions.
- 4. Appropriate, Critical and Compliant
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When using AI, staff and students should select the right tool for the task, think critically about the outputs, and ensure their use complies with institutional policies and legal requirements.
- 5. Accountable, Ethical and Responsible
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AI should be used in an ethical and responsible way, with staff and students remaining fully accountable for the accuracy and integrity of AI generated content.
- 6. Sustainable and Environmentally Conscious
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Staff and students should recognise the environmental impact of AI technologies and make informed, conscious choices to reduce their digital carbon footprint.
Full details of the AI Principles are available for staff on the AI Learning Lab SharePoint.