At New Covenant International University & Seminary (NCIU), we recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming ever more part of everyday life, including academic work. AI should always be used ethically, i.e., it should be acknowledged in a footnote as a source. Our Style Guide has been updated to reflect this development.

We find it helpful to distinguish between undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Especially at undergraduate level, which usually does not involve research and is in general more descriptive and fact-based, students may be tempted to use AI, such as ChatGPT, for essays and pass them off as their own efforts. To counteract this temptation, testing to determine grades will include increasingly oral exams, multiple choice tests, colloquiums and other suitable means. In addition, the topic of the thesis will be kept unique for each student to deter the use of AI.

At postgraduate level, which includes research, AI can be helpful and is not discouraged by NCIU – as long as it is properly acknowledged. However, at Master level, most of the coursework tends to be not research-based. NCIU will ask students to write ministry-related essays and theses, which apply theoretical knowledge to specific contexts.

In general, NCIU’s mentoring system means that Adjunct-Tutors get to know their students very well. This allows them to spot unacknowledged use of AI quite quickly.

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.

August 2024