By: Dwight Links
The University of Namibia (UNAM) and the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) are planning their own artificial intelligence (AI) policies in response to recent developments in its utilisation.
AI has become the central development creating noticeable ripples in all sectors of everyday life. South Africa’s North-West University rolled out the country’s first AI policy for a tertiary institution.
UNAM’s spokesperson, Simon Namesho, indicated that the institution has already set the ball in motion on its policy, currently in the pipeline for further development.
“The University of Namibia has developed a draft artificial intelligence policy for learning, teaching, assessment, and research, which is intended to apply across the entire institution. The policy is currently progressing through the University’s formal governance and approval structures before publishing,” Namesho highlighted on the development of the policy.
According to him, the policy will be a broadly applicable tool to the various uses of AI.
“Once approved, the policy will provide a coherent institutional framework governing the responsible use of AI in learning, teaching, assessment and research activities across all faculties and academic units,” he added.
On the applicability aspect, UNAM aims to ensure that the policy will work in conjunction with their existing policies to ensure fluidity.
On subjects like the involvement and protection of intellectual property, research ethics and other related matters, Namesho indicated that these are core pillars that the policy would be guided on.
“Importantly, it does not exist in isolation; it aligns with and is read together with existing University policies that already regulate intellectual property, academic integrity, ethics, and research governance. In this regard, intellectual property protection and scholarly ownership remain firmly anchored within UNAM’s established policy environment,” Namesho explained.
NUST’s Cindy van Wyk also confirmed that the institution developed an AI policy for itself, citing that there are internal steps to be taken before the policy is rolled out.
“Yes, NUST has developed an overarching AI policy, which will soon be implemented pending completion of internal processes. Thereafter, the university will commence with the formal rollout,” Van Wyk stated.
NUST’s approach will include all its faculties and day-to-day functions in administration.
“The NUST AI policy is applicable across all faculties, as well as the university’s research, teaching and learning, and administrative functions. Matters relating to intellectual property are addressed through the institution’s existing Intellectual Property Policy of 2023,” she added.
In NUST’s Strategic Plan of 2021-2025, the institution aimed to build and strengthen innovation and technology capacity, with intellectual property being central to growth.
“Develop flexible models for effective utilisation of the university’s intellectual property by 2023,” the strategy outlines.
The policy also intended to increase the number of intellectual property licence agreements emanating from research and development (R&D) activities and outputs into products, processes and services that are of benefit to the Namibian society by 2025.
IMPACT ON RESEARCH
Namesho outlined that the adoption of AI in almost all facets of everyday life has seen its use also permeate into the research realm.
“In terms of research and academic work, AI has undoubtedly begun to influence how knowledge is generated, analysed, and presented. UNAM actively monitors these developments and recognises both the opportunities and risks that AI presents within the academic space,” he explained.
Namesho added that the University makes use of an established academic integrity and similarity-detection platform, which is designed to identify plagiarism and indicators of AI-assisted content in research outputs and other scholarly work.
Van Wyk pointed towards the output potential that AI use and its tools provide to researchers and academics.
“At an institutional level, NUST recognises that the responsible use of AI can enhance research productivity and quality by supporting tasks such as data management, analysis, pattern recognition and the efficient review of large volumes of literature,” she highlighted.
Ultimately, this begs the question of whether there is emphasis placed on maintaining ethical standards.
“When used ethically and transparently, AI serves as an enabling tool that assists researchers in improving efficiency, rigour, and overall research outputs, rather than replacing scholarly judgement or academic integrity,” Van Wyk explains.
FIGHTING PLAGIARISM
Both NUST and UNAM cited that they have their own methods of combating plagiarism. Namesho noted that as there is no single silver bullet for plagiarism, UNAM has tools at its disposal to flag various occurrences of plagiarism.
“As with institutions globally, UNAM acknowledges that AI introduces new and evolving challenges, including in the area of plagiarism. These challenges are addressed through a combination of policy development, continuous research, benchmarking against peer institutions, staff and student guidance, and innovation in academic practice,” noted Namesho.
From NUST’s perspective, Van Wyk remarked that the use of AI does not necessarily prevent plagiarism, hence it is important principles of academic integrity are upheld.
“Regardless of whether content is generated through traditional means or with the assistance of AI tools, researchers remain responsible for proper attribution and citation of all sources used. NUST’s position is that accountability for scholarly work rests with the researcher, and that the ethical and transparent use of AI must align with existing plagiarism standards and research integrity requirements,” she indicated.
