SZTE Promotes the Regulated and Transparent Use of AI in Education

“The University of Szeged supports the regulated and transparent use of artificial intelligence in education and in the completion of student assignments, publishing its institutionally approved framework for instructors and students in the form of guidelines.”

The guidelines for instructors and students are built on three shared principles: transparency, responsible use, and ethical compliance.

Below is a summary of the key points to be observed; for more detailed guidance, the full documents should be consulted.

The five pillars of AI use in education

1. Purposefulness – The role of AI is to support but not to replace learning and competence development.

2. Transparency – All use of AI must be documented.

3. Critical review and verification – AI outputs must always be reviewed and verified (e.g., for accuracy, references, consistency).

4. Adherence to course rules – The syllabus and requirements established by instructors, as published on the CooSpace platform and discussed in class, serve as the primary point of reference for every course.

5. Responsible data use – Plagiarism and the sharing (i.e., uploading) of personal or confidential information remain strictly prohibited.

What does the regulation mean for instructors?

• Course-level regulation: Instructors specify the conditions for AI use in the syllabus and course requirements, both on the CooSpace platform and in class. It is recommended that these conditions be discussed explicitly during the first session.

• Models for AI use:
  1. Complete prohibition;
  2. Partial permission (for specific assignments, with transparency);
  3. Full permission (with ongoing mandatory and comprehensive documentation).

• Rethinking assessment: Beyond essays and written assignments, assessment can be diversified by incorporating presentations or interactive components.

• Methodological integration: AI can assist with tasks such as source exploration, lesson planning, or generating exercises – always with a clear pedagogical purpose and under critical oversight. Instructors are also required to inform students when, and for what purposes, they themselves use AI in the context of the course.

• Detectors: Given that AI detectors may produce both false positives and false negatives, they cannot serve as a fully reliable means of verification of students’ AI use.

Using their Neptun code, instructors may access online teaching resources on AI in higher education via the Coursera for SZTE online program. In addition, in Fall 2025, an online workshop series with distinguished experts will also be launched.

What does the regulation mean for students?

• AI can be a valuable aid in learning, but it is strictly forbidden to submit AI-generated content as one’s own – original – work. Students must always indicate the tool used, specify its version (where possible), and describe how it was used.

• Regulations may differ across courses, but the syllabus, course requirements, and all class instructions are always binding, whether AI use is completely prohibited, partially permitted, or fully permitted.

• For theses and dissertations, the use of AI use is permitted only with full transparency, including clear indication of the tool, its version, and the nature of its contribution to the work. The work must still contain independent analysis and interpretation. In addition, during the defense, students must demonstrate their own knowledge and understanding with sufficient detail.

• Conscious data management is essential: sensitive, personal, or confidential institutional data must not be uploaded to public AI platforms. Reviewing the data processing policies of such services is strongly advised.

The Coursera for SZTE online program offers for-credit courses for students who wish to deepen their understanding of AI use.

Quick checklist for students and instructors:

• Is AI use permitted for the course (based on the syllabus, requirements, or in-class instructions)?

• Have I documented what tool I used and how I used it (name of the tool, its version [if known], and manner of use)?

• Have I critically verified the AI output for professional accuracy and references?

• Have I ensured that no personal/confidential data is included in prompts or uploaded materials?

• Does the assignment or assessment reflect independent knowledge and understanding (as in oral presentations and defenses)

In summary, this amendment to SZTE’s Academic and Examination Regulations affirms the university’s support for the regulated and transparent use of artificial intelligence in education. More specifically, institutional guidelines and course-level rules provide the framework needed to ensure that AI genuinely serves both teaching and learning.

Source: SZTE Directorate for Academic Affairs

Feature photo: pixabay.com