Helping universities and educators move beyond AI-use rules towards informed judgement, responsible practice and the preservation of student intellectual contribution.
The principle is simple: AI may assist the process, but the student remains responsible for the academic work.
AI Has Changed the Academic Integrity Question
Generative AI is transforming how students research, analyse, develop ideas and produce academic work. Traditional approaches to academic integrity, centred primarily on plagiarism and misconduct, are no longer sufficient on their own. Universities must also consider how students learn to use AI responsibly, demonstrate their own intellectual contribution and meet the intended learning outcomes of assessment.
The Teaching Challenge
Students are increasingly expected to make ethical decisions about AI use, yet explicit instruction in these competences may be limited or inconsistent.
The Assessment Challenge
When students use AI during coursework, educators must distinguish legitimate assistance from the substitution of intellectual work that assessment is intended to measure.
The Institutional Challenge
Universities need approaches that are understandable, consistent and practical across disciplines, while recognising differences in assessment requirements.
From AI Rules to Responsible Academic Practice
Acadama promotes a structured approach to ethical AI use that connects teaching, student intellectual responsibility and institutional practice. The aim is to help universities move beyond compliance instructions towards the development of informed judgement and transparent academic work.
TEACH
Develop students’ understanding of appropriate AI assistance, academic expectations and the intellectual responsibilities that remain their own.
APPLY
Use the Five-Stage Framework to guide decisions about AI use during exploration, analysis, synthesis, creation and documentation.
IMPLEMENT
Support educators and institutions in adapting ethical AI principles to teaching, coursework and assessment requirements.
The Five-Stage Framework
A structured approach to ethical AI use that helps students and educators distinguish appropriate AI assistance from the intellectual work students are expected to undertake themselves.
EXPLORE
Build understanding
ANALYSE
Exercise critical judgement
SYNTHESISE
Integrate ideas
CREATE
Develop original work
DOCUMENT
Make AI use transparent
Working with Universities
Institutional Consultancy
Support for universities exploring ethical AI education, academic integrity, staff development and the practical application of the Five-Stage Framework.
Research Collaboration
Opportunities for universities to participate in independent evaluation of the framework, including ethical AI judgement, evidence of student intellectual contribution and assessment workload.
Books & Learning Resources
AI & Academic Integrity: The Five-Stage Framework
A framework for ethical AI use in higher education, addressing responsible AI assistance, academic integrity and student intellectual contribution.
AI & Academic Integrity – A Structured Framework – Workbook
A companion workbook offering structured exercises and activities for practising and documenting ethical AI use
Advance Ethical AI Practice at Your Institution
Explore how Acadama can support your institution through consultancy, staff development, practical application of the Five-Stage Framework and opportunities for research collaboration.