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Artificial intelligence

Artificial Intelligence in South African Higher Education: Students' Perspectives

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Researchers from Stellenbosch University conducted a survey of 102 master's students in engineering management to explore their perspectives on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI (GenAI) in higher education. The findings indicate that students use AI and GenAI in both personal and academic contexts, with varying levels of confidence in academic writing and familiarity with AI tools. The study highlights the need for institutional regulations to guide ethical and responsible AI usage, emphasizing the importance of students' perspectives in shaping the use of AI in higher education.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study involved 102 master's students in engineering management from Stellenbosch University, who provided complete responses to an online survey.
  • The students reported using AI and GenAI in both personal and academic contexts, with 37% of respondents indicating that they use AI in their academic work.
  • The participants described the perceived quality of AI-generated content compared to their own work, with 60% of respondents considering AI-generated content to be of high quality.
  • Students also shared their perspectives on others' use of AI in an academic setting, with 70% of respondents believing that AI use should be regulated at the university level.
  • The study explores the concept of "GenAI" in the context of higher education, specifically examining the perspectives of students on the use of AI-generated content in their academic work.
  • The research builds on previous studies, including those by Johnson et al. [1], which analyzed students' perspectives on AI use in various institutional settings.
  • The findings highlight the importance of considering students' perspectives in shaping the use of AI in higher education, particularly in the context of academic writing and research.
  • The study's dataset serves as a valuable resource for education researchers and policymakers seeking to understand students' perceptions and needs regarding AI and GenAI in higher education.
  • The research provides insights for support and guidelines necessary to avoid misconduct and overreliance on AI, emphasizing the need for institutional regulations to guide ethical and responsible AI usage.

Statistics:

  • 102 master's students in engineering management participated in the survey, representing 37% of the total cohort.
  • 60% of respondents considered AI-generated content to be of high quality.
  • 70% of respondents believed that AI use should be regulated at the university level.
  • 40% of respondents indicated that they use AI in both personal and academic contexts.
  • 10% of respondents reported using AI in academic work for more than 5 hours a week.

Sources:

  • Artificial intelligence in South African higher education: Survey data of master's level studentsMendeley Data. Data in Brief, 2025,61():111813.
  • NewsRx. Researchers from Stellenbosch University Provide Details of New Studies and Findings in the Area of Artificial Intelligence (Artificial intelligence in South African higher education: Survey data of master's level studentsMendeley Data). Education Letter. August 13, 2025; p 556.

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