Beyond Detection: Rethinking AI Tool Use in Academic Theses
Abstract
Generative AI tools like ChatGPT are becoming an everyday practice in student writing, and academic institutions are under increasing pressure to respond. So far, most policies have focused on detection or prohibition. This position paper argues that detection and prohibition are not enforceable and calls for a shift toward a competence- and integrity-based framework. Using the case of the Business Computing program at HTW Berlin, we present a model policy that permits AI use under transparent conditions. Students are required to understand and defend their work. Further, the approach acknowledges that the use of AI reduces the skill set required to create academic texts. We thus argue that it is necessary to increase the level of difficulty in educational assignments and discuss opportunities to do so. Rather than treating AI as an external threat, this approach integrates it into academic practice. Future research will examine how such policies influence student performance and learning outcomes.
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How to Cite
Schauer, S., Simbeck, K. (2025). Beyond Detection: Rethinking AI Tool Use in Academic Theses. 13th Higher Education Institutions Conference (HEIC 2025), 04-05 September, 2025, Dubrovnik (Croatia). https://doi.org/10.66781/heic.2025.08
