Govt Sounds Alarm Over Unethical Use of ChatGPT in Academics

The Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology, chaired by Senator Kamal Ali Agha, convened to discuss various agenda items, including the representation of five senators in the sub-institutions of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The committee was informed that the Senate Chairman had recommended five senators for representation in these institutions. Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui stated that the files have been received, and the notification for these appointments will be issued soon.

However, he revealed that the Right-Sizing Committee had dissolved the Pakistan Council for Science and Technology, making it impossible to appoint senators to its board, as the board itself is being dismantled.

Chairman Agha expressed concern over the state of the ministry, highlighting that out of 17 sub-institutions, nine lack permanent heads. Minister Siddiqui responded that summaries for the appointment of heads for three institutions have been sent to the Prime Minister.

The committee also discussed issues related to student housing at COMSATS University Islamabad. Rector COMSATS informed the members that 11,000 students are enrolled in the Islamabad campus, and space constraints make it challenging to construct on-campus hostels. Instead, students are accommodated in private hostels near Park Road.

Committee members raised concerns about the poor conditions in private hostels, where up to 10 students share a single room. The chairman directed university authorities to address the issue and arrange proper housing facilities for students.

During the meeting, COMSATS University officials briefed the committee on the challenges posed by plagiarism and the increasing use of AI tools like ChatGPT in academic research. Senator Afnan Ullah questioned how the university handles cases of plagiarism. Officials explained that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has provided a plagiarism-checking tool, and the university maintains zero tolerance for such practices.

Senator Afnan Ullah further inquired about the role of ChatGPT in academic misconduct, to which university representatives admitted that preventing its misuse is a significant challenge. They noted that while ChatGPT can be used to generate research papers, the focus should shift toward teaching students and faculty how to use it constructively.

The university has already initiated faculty training programs on ChatGPT to encourage its ethical and effective use in research and academia.

The meeting underscored the need for universities to adapt to emerging technologies and develop robust systems to maintain academic integrity. The committee emphasized the importance of balancing innovation and ethical standards in higher education. Members called on the Ministry of Science and Technology to prioritize appointing permanent leadership to ensure smooth functioning of its institutions.