Dear colleagues and students
Artificial intelligence technology is becoming a part of our daily lives and is beginning to reshape teaching and learning at university. Staff and students use tools such as ChatGpt, Claude, and Gemini in innovative and productive ways. At other times, these techniques present important challenges and need to rethink the basis of education, assessment practice, university experience, and what qualifications should mean in a changing world.
The University of Cape Town (UCT) is pleased to announce the support of UCT AI in the Educational Framework by the Senate Board of Education in June 2025, as it is committed to providing an environmental and systematic approach to shaping and supporting staff and students in the responsible ethical use of these technologies.
Focusing primarily on generative AI, this framework represents the current institutional status of how UCT's teaching and learning communities can respond and shape the emergence of AI technology. Given the rapid development and attention of AI technology, this framework provides a set of comprehensive principles on ethical and responsible use, promoting three pillars of AI engagement.
- Promoting AI literacy for staff and students
- Promotion and ensuring the integrity of assessments
- Explore and invest in AI-enabled opportunities for innovation in education, learning, and curriculum design
The pillar is designed to outline the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholder groups in the operation of the framework, focusing on co-initiatives that can support the UCT education community by providing a roadmap for short- and medium-term activities. Responding to AI in teaching and learning requires commitment from the entire teaching and learning community, coming together to shape our future with intention and integrity.
The framework was drafted by the Online Education Subcommittee in September 2024 and was finalized in June 2025 after extensive involvement with faculties, support departments, student representatives and the UCT AI initiative. Some important messages from the consultation were foregrounding academic integrity practices, ensuring fairness for staff and students accessing AI technology in teaching and learning, and promoting AI literacy and capabilities of staff and students.
We would like to thank all stakeholders who were involved in this important process and whose opinions and suggestions have enriched the framework. Given the rapidly changing space, the framework's roadmap and set of activities are updated regularly to accommodate new developments through the framework's web pages.
I recommend reading and getting involved with the framework.
An important related issue is the use of Turnitin AI scores. This flags writings in student works that are considered A-Generated. AI detection tools are widely considered unreliable and can generate both false positives and false negatives. Continued use of such scores risks undermining student trust and academic fairness. The Senate Board of Education and Learning currently agrees that it must discontinue using AI scores, and this feature of Turnitin will no longer be available at UCT from October 1, 2025.
From the heart
Professor Brandon Collier Reed
Vice President: Education and Learning
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