Bild: Adobe StockThe use of artificial intelligence (AI) in degree programmes varies greatly between subjects in Germany. AI applications such as ChatGPT are already being used by students across all subjects, but students use AI with varying frequency and with different focal points depending on their field of study. There is still significant potential to expand the range of courses on offer for acquiring skills in dealing with AI, particularly outside the field of computer science. This is shown by a survey of over 34,000 students as part of the CHE University Ranking from the winter semester 2023/24.
AI applications are already frequently used for various purposes in degree programmes
The range and possible applications of artificial intelligence (AI) have developed rapidly in recent years. Students are also increasingly utilising the opportunities offered by AI applications such as ChatGPT. This is shown in a recent publication by the CHE Centre for Higher Education. The data is based on a survey of 34,147 students at German and Austrian universities in 15 different subjects from the winter semester 2023/24.
However, the detailed analysis by subject shows clear differences with regard to the intensity of use and the main areas of application of AI tools during studies. Computer science students in particular already use these programmes regularly. For example, 61 percent of computer science students stated that they use AI monthly to daily for programming activities. Around a quarter of students in subjects such as sports science, sociology or political science already use AI applications regularly when writing reports, seminar papers or theses. In medical subjects, on the other hand, the intensity of use is rather low.
Expansion potential for AI offerings at universities
There is also significant potential for expansion in the range of courses offered by universities for acquiring skills in dealing with artificial intelligence. Outside the subject of computer science, students only rate their university’s existing offerings in this area with an average of 2.1 out of 5 stars. In Computer Science, students are more satisfied with the programmes on offer, with an average rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars. This is certainly also due to the fact that the development of AI has already become an established field of computer science.
Although AI applications are already used by some students across all subjects, there do not yet appear to be sufficient opportunities for students to practise the practical use of AI tools and to critically reflect on the capabilities and limitations of artificial intelligence.
Transfer of AI expertise from computer science to other fields of study necessary
“The use of AI tools in degree programmes will not and must not stop at subject boundaries. It is important that students of all subjects can use AI applications appropriately and acquire the relevant skills to use them,” emphasises Marc Hüsch, one of the autors of the study. “Subjects such as computer science could play a supporting role here and contribute to the transfer of AI expertise to other fields of study. It should be borne in mind that AI is used for very different aspects depending on the subject and that the use of AI must therefore also be taught in a subject-specific way.”
“Our data also shows that students are aware of the problems associated with the use of artificial intelligence and recognise the strengths and weaknesses of AI,” says Marc Hüsch. Around 40 per cent of respondents consider an AI code of conduct at their university to be “important” or “very important”. Around half of those surveyed also consider personal consent to the AI-supported analysis of personal data by the university to be important.
Further data on the views of university management and teaching staff on AI in studying and teaching can be found in the current Focus of the Higher Education Forum on Digitalisation (german). The publication contains preliminary data from the second Monitor Digitalisation 360° (german), which examines the current status of the digitalisation of studying and teaching at German universities every two years.
About the publication (german)
The evaluation is based on a survey conducted as part of the CHE University Ranking 2024 in the winter semester 2023/24. 34,147 students in undergraduate degree programmes from the third semester onwards at 165 universities and universities of cooperative education throughout Germany and Austria were surveyed. The range of subjects is based on the rotation of the CHE University Ranking, in which one third of all subjects are updated or students are surveyed annually. The survey covered the 15 subjects of biochemistry, biology/biosciences, chemistry, geography, geosciences, computer science, mathematics, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physics, political science, sociology, sport/sports science and dentistry. The authors of “CHECK – Artificial Intelligence in Studies and Teaching – The Students’ Perspective in the Winter Semester 2023/24” are Marc Hüsch and Nina Horstmann from the CHE Centre for Higher Education and Andreas Breiter from the University of Bremen.
CHECK - Künstliche Intelligenz in Studium und Lehre 10. July 2024 6.64 MB 2627 downloads
Hüsch, Marc; Horstmann, Nina; Breiter, Andreas: CHECK - Künstliche Intelligenz...
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