North-West University (NWU) has become the first higher-education institution in South Africa to adopt a formal artificial intelligence (AI) policy, setting clear standards for how students, faculty and researchers should use AI tools responsibly across teaching, research and assessment.
The pioneering framework addresses growing uncertainty surrounding the use of generative AI in academia by defining ethical boundaries, academic integrity requirements, data privacy protections and acceptable use cases. It clearly distinguishes between permitted and prohibited applications of AI, with the aim of safeguarding fairness, learning quality and scholarly credibility.
According to the university, the policy is designed to encourage innovation while preventing misuse, such as contract cheating, biased algorithmic decision-making and the inappropriate use of AI in research outputs and assessments.
Across South Africa and much of the African continent, the rapid adoption of AI technologies has outpaced the development of institutional guidelines, leaving universities struggling to respond to challenges posed by powerful generative tools. These challenges include academic dishonesty, lack of transparency in AI-assisted work and concerns over data security and bias.
By introducing a structured governance framework, NWU hopes to provide clarity for its academic community and promote critical engagement with AI rather than imposing blanket bans.
The university said the policy is intended to serve as a practical template for other institutions navigating the balance between academic rigour and technological advancement, positioning NWU as a leader in responsible AI adoption within higher education.
