AI has now become an integral part of academic environments. This document aims to set out how the use of AI by students is permitted within the context of New Covenant International University (NCIU) and its Articulation Agreement partners.
As a Christian University with a Pentecostal-Charismatic emphasis, NCIU believes that academic learning is only one part of studying. Through studies at our university, students should have their lives transformed into greater Christlikeness and be able to serve better in their specific ministry contexts. This is ordinarily achieved by wrestling with Biblical texts, historical accounts, cultural backgrounds and intercultural theories and practices, with reflection of other theological sources. AI can help this process only in a limited capacity, usually by giving students a variety of interpretational models that they have to analyze critically themselves.
In general, AI should always be used ethically, i.e., it should be acknowledged in a footnote as a source and in the bibliography. Our Style Guide has been updated to reflect this development. Honesty is one of the hallmarks of a born-again Christian. We trust that NCIU students will use AI responsibly and in line with the following expectations.
Students can use AI for research purposes only and must acknowledge it. NCIU will use industry standard tools to detect the amount of AI used in any given student submission. If the value given by the detector tool exceeds 10%, the assignment is deemed plagiarized and will fall under NCIU’s plagiarism rules.
As our society is becoming increasingly postliterate, learning to write an essay has become an essential task. Grammar checks and spellchecks are permitted, but the use of AI to originate whole paragraphs or sections is not allowed. The original thought must be intact, and thoughts influenced by others, including AI research, must be cited as per standard academic policies. Otherwise, the tutor would not be able to see gradual improvement in successively submitted, reviewed and graded essays. If the students take the tutor comments on board, real learning will take place.
NCIU testing for more knowledge-based courses, e.g. Old and New Testament Surveys, and other courses will include increasingly oral exams, discussion-based assessments, multiple choice tests, colloquiums and other suitable means. Doctoral students must take part in a live viva.
To ensure authenticity, essay topics will be tailored to the student’s ministry situation through critical analysis of ministry context case studies. For practical projects, student must submit reflective accounts of placements or projects.
Students are required to demonstrate how they have arrived at their answers by clearly outlining their thought processes. This can include an annotated bibliography and book reviews.
A student’s specific learning journey is demonstrated by first explaining the theory of any given topic and then applying this theoretical framework to his/her ministry situation and experience.
In the early study stages, iteration takes place through the submission of an essay outline that the tutor comments on. Then, the student can submit the draft of the first chapter, which is returned to the student with tutor commentary. Thereafter, the student can work on and submit the remaining parts of the essay for marking by the tutor. For theses and dissertations, students are obliged to submit a detailed research form that the tutor will discuss with the student in person or via Zoom. Subsequently, thesis and dissertation chapters should be submitted one at a time to allow for critical tutor feedback and, if required, change of direction.
AI will continue to evolve, and NCIU will make every effort to adapt and change in light of new developments. Government decisions to allow or curb the use of AI may play a role, too.
July 2026
