At Queen's University Belfast, various departments are actively encouraging the use of AI as a tool to enhance learning. From helping students with research to aiding in time management, AI is becoming a crucial part of university life. However, there's one significant concern: academic offences. As long as your work remains original and AI is used appropriately, you'll be in the clear. But let's dive into how we, as students, can harness the power of AI without being penalised for it.

The Only Rule: Avoiding Academic Offences

It’s important to note that the university doesn’t frown upon AI usage itself—its concern lies with potential academic offences. If you’re worried about using AI in your assignments, remember this: as long as your work is your own and properly documented, you’ll be fine. Many professors, like mine, even dedicate classes to showing students how to craft AI prompts that help them skim through the latest research. It’s all about striking the right balance between leveraging AI and maintaining academic integrity.

Ensure your work is your own

When in doubt, always reach out to your professor, school support, or the Learning Development Service (LDS) for undergraduate students. If you’re a PGT or PGR student, contacting the Thomas J Moran Graduate School is a smart way to seek help. Queen's offers ample support to guide you, ensuring you don’t unknowingly violate any policies.

Crafting the Right AI Prompts

AI can only be as good as the prompts you provide. For instance, some AI tools are more suited for research, while others might excel in organisation or summarisation. When I first started using AI, I spent time learning how to give it the most effective prompts to get relevant results. The AHSS digital skills team at Queen's offers workshops and podcasts on this exact topic throughout the year. These can be a great way to improve your digital skills and make the best use of AI.

The better the prompts, the more accurate and relevant responses

Documenting Your Use of AI

One of the requirements you’ll often face when using AI is documenting its usage. While this might seem like a hassle, it’s actually quite straightforward and helpful. Documenting how and where AI has been used in your work ensures transparency, helping you avoid any risk of academic offences. It also serves as a safeguard, showing your professors that you’ve used AI responsibly.

AI as a Learning Tool

I’ve found AI particularly helpful as a starting point for any new topic I encounter. It provides a bird’s eye view before I dive deeper into subtopics. For instance, when I was preparing for a project in my field, I used AI to quickly summarise the topic. But of course, I always cross-check AI’s output with my textbooks or lecture notes, but as a starting point, it’s fantastic. Once I had an overview, I was able to identify areas where I wanted to focus and this saved me time.

AI can be a valuable starting point for research

AI as your Time Management Assistant

Time management is crucial, especially for large projects. I found AI particularly helpful when planning out my dissertation schedule. By inputting my planned tasks, I got a reasonable timeline, which I then adjusted to suit my personal preferences. AI made it easier to break down what seemed like an overwhelming project into manageable parts.

AI for Referencing: Handle with Caution

While AI can be a helpful assistant in some areas, I’ve learned that it’s not foolproof—especially when it comes to academic referencing. I used AI tools when first learning how to reference, but I quickly realised they often made many errors. When it comes to something as precise as academic citations, it’s worth doing it on your own.

AI for Non-Academic Uses

Initially, I was hesitant to use AI. It wasn’t until I attended a conference on Generative AI that I realised I was missing out. AI is transforming the workplace, and those who don’t embrace it might be living in the past. Now, I use AI to help me find synonymous job roles and tailor my CV and cover letters to specific job descriptions.

AI can be a useful tool during your job search

The Limitations of AI

While AI has proven to be an incredible tool, it’s not without limitations. As a language model, it lacks the ability to think critically or creatively. AI is best for repetitive tasks, but when it comes to original thought, emotional intelligence, and creativity, humans still have the upper hand.

At the end of the day, AI is a tool—an incredibly powerful one—but how you use it to compliment your work matters. Whether you’re using it for academic or personal tasks, staying mindful of its limitations while embracing its potential is the key to success at Queen’s University Belfast.

Find out more

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Sai Sree Kurra MSc Management | Postgraduate Student | India Hello fellow students and passionate readers!! I'm an enthusiastic cinephile, cynophile and bibliophile. Watching and occasionally participating in sports gives me immense joy, with cricket being my favourite. I am extremely passionate and devoted to mental health awareness. Volunteering for significant causes makes my heart feel full. Coming to my professional background, I'm an ambitious student pursuing a Master's in Management. Former perfectionist, now striving to balance ambition and passion with compassion and self care. My professional interests include Leadership, Marketing, Strategy, and Business Consulting. As a lifelong learner, I constantly seek opportunities for learning and development and love to challenge myself.