Navigating academic integrity in the age of on-demand artificial intelligence: implications for globalizing higher education at the University of Ibadan

Abstract

In the context of globalizing higher education in Nigeria, this study investigates the implications of on-demand Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools on academic integrity. The study focuses on undergraduate students at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, using a descriptive survey design. The study looks into how AI is used and how this relates to academic integrity. A multistage sampling method was used to choose 205 students from four faculties. Information regarding opinions about academic integrity and the use of AI tools for academic tasks were gathered through a structured questionnaire. At 0.05 level of significance, the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation and descriptive statistics (frequency counts, mean and standard deviation) were used to analyze the data. According to the findings, there is a strong positive correlation ( r  = .611, p  < .05) between the prevalence of academic dishonesty and the use of AI tools. While AI tools improve learning effectiveness and access to knowledge, their unrestrained use poses serious obstacles to upholding academic standards. Especially in a higher education environment that is becoming more digitally and globally connected. Thus, the study comes to the conclusion that Nigerian universities must reconsider their frameworks for academic integrity. Particularly in light of the incorporation of AI into academic practices. The study recommends encouraging students to be AI literate by creating context-sensitive institutional policies that integrate AI ethics into the curriculum. Thereby establishing clear standards for identifying work that has been produced using AI tools. In the age of international knowledge exchange, these steps are crucial to maintaining the competitiveness, legitimacy and moral integrity of African higher education systems.