Ethical Challenges of Artificial Intelligence Use in Higher Education

Abstract

The article examines how the rapid adoption of generative and analytical artificial intelligence systems in teaching, assessment, and the governance of higher education institutions – іntended to enhance the effectiveness of the educational process – creates not only new opportunities but also a complex set of interrelated ethical risks. The key challenges associated with the use of artificial intelligence in higher education include threats to academic integrity, the opacity of algorithmic decision-making, risks of algorithmic bias and discrimination, and violations of privacy and personal data protection. Based on an analysis of contemporary international and national research, international ethical guidelines, pan-European regulatory approaches, and the national legal framework, the study demonstrates that existing regulatory mechanisms governing the use of artificial intelligence in higher education remain fragmented and largely generic in nature and do not fully account for the specific peculiarities of the university environment as a space for knowledge production and the formation of academic values. It is shown that the absence of clear institutional policies and transparent rules for the use of AI increases the risks of declining trust in educational decisions and institutional legitimacy. It is demonstrated that the absence of clear institutional policies and transparent rules governing the use of artificial intelligence exacerbates the risks of declining trust among both students and academic staff in digital learning environments, as well as undermines institutional legitimacy. The article proposes the application of an integrated three-level model for regulating the use of artificial intelligence in higher education, combining international ethical standards, national legal frameworks, and institutional policies of higher education institutions. Accordingly, it is concluded that ethically responsible use of artificial intelligence in higher education is possible only through the establishment of a comprehensive system of regulatory mechanisms aimed at ensuring algorithmic transparency, academic integrity, non-discrimination, and the protection of personal data.