Universities Must Separate AI Policy from Plagiarism Policy: Rethinking Academic Integrity

This session in the AI in Research Webinar Series tackles a critical issue in South African higher education: the growing tension between AI use and plagiarism policies. As artificial intelligence tools increasingly assist in research and academic writing, many South African universities mistakenly treat AI use as academic misconduct. This has led to confusion, inconsistent institutional responses, and policy gaps that undermine the role of AI in scholarly work. The workshop focuses on why universities must clearly separate AI policy from plagiarism policy and reframe academic integrity frameworks in the context of AI advancements. Participants will explore the current trends in AI integration within South African universities, understand the risks of conflating AI use with academic dishonesty, and learn to establish effective policies for governing AI. Practical discussions will address how to ethically manage AI tools in research while maintaining transparency and academic rigor. Designed for senior academics, university managers, policy developers, and postgraduate students (Master’s and PhD), this studio provides a comprehensive understanding of AI’s role in academic integrity. Participants will leave with clear guidance on policy distinctions, tools for ethical AI integration, and insight into the future of academic integrity in the age of AI.