UNILAG to Unveil AI Ethics Policy to Foster Critical Thinking in Academia

By DAYO ADESULU

Lagos, Nigeria – The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is set to introduce a policy document on the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in academic activities. The institution aims to harness AI to enhance critical thinking rather than encourage plagiarism and academic indolence.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics and Research), Professor Bola Oboh, announced this during the opening of a three-day workshop on ethics in higher education. The event, titled the Intensive Training Workshop on Higher Education Ethics, was organized by the Office of International Relations, Partnerships, and Prospects (IRPP) and facilitated by Fulbright Specialist Awardee and Deputy Ethics Officer at Texas A&M University, Professor Russell Porter.

Ethical Use of AI in Academia

Professor Oboh described the training as crucial, emphasizing the importance of ethical standards in tertiary education. She highlighted UNILAG’s commitment to developing a policy to regulate AI use in academic work, ensuring it supports intellectual growth rather than replacing human reasoning.

“If we say no to AI, we will be deceiving ourselves. Our students and even lecturers are already using it. However, they must understand that AI should assist learning, not replace critical thinking. Copying and pasting AI-generated content without thought is a serious ethical issue,” Oboh stated.

She further disclosed that the university’s AI ethics policy would be finalized and submitted to the Senate for approval within the next two months. Once adopted, it will help mitigate the risks of plagiarism and laziness while fostering ethical AI use among students and staff.

Global AI Ethics Concerns

Professor Porter reiterated that AI and Machine Learning (ML) pose ethical concerns worldwide. He referenced past discussions on AI ethics at UNILAG and stressed the importance of responsible AI implementation to prevent ethical and legal violations.

He commended ongoing global research in AI ethics, emphasizing the need for vigilance and adaptation to ensure compliance with academic standards.

AI Ethics and Research at UNILAG

During one of the workshop sessions, Dr. Babatunde Sawyer, Research Lead of the Machine Intelligence Research Group (MIRG) at UNILAG and a lecturer in the Department of Computer Science, addressed AI accountability, validity, reliability, explainability, security, and privacy.

Held at the Arthur Mbanefo Digital Research Centre (AMDRC), the workshop aimed to equip faculty members with essential ethical frameworks to uphold academic integrity while leveraging AI tools effectively.

Training and Knowledge Transfer Initiative

The workshop, an outcome of Professor Porter’s Fulbright research, is part of the Proactive Ethics Programme (PEP) initiative. The programme seeks to equip academic and administrative staff with proactive ethical strategies to mitigate legal and ethical challenges in academia.

According to organizers, participants will:

• Gain a deeper understanding of higher education ethics from legal and moral perspectives.
• Learn key ethical theories and decision-making processes to ensure compliance.
• Develop proactive ethics-based strategies to prevent academic misconduct.
• Evaluate the ethical responsibilities of faculty, students, and administrative staff.

Professor Oboh emphasized that faculty members must ensure that the knowledge gained from the training is disseminated across departments within six months.

Virtual Extension of Workshop

Following the conclusion of the physical training on January 31, the workshop will continue virtually for three additional days, allowing participants to further engage with ethical AI practices and compliance strategies.

The University of Lagos remains committed to upholding academic integrity while embracing AI as a tool for intellectual growth and excellence.