We conducted research in the form of surveys from February to June of the current year. They included not only knowledge of GenAI, but were also an attempt to diagnose the expectations of our staff, students and doctoral students towards this technology
– says Dr Dominika Kaczorowska-Spychalska, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz, coordinator of the Generative AI Team at the University of Lodz.
The team members have presented a preliminary summary of their research in a letter, which we publish in its entirety below.
The University of Lodz is one of the first Polish universities to establish a special Team for Generative Artificial Intelligence. Its activities focus on the analysis of trends in AI development and assessing their significance for the university, especially in the field of education and scientific and research activities.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,,
we would like to thank everyone who took part in the GenAI Team’s research on the level of knowledge of systems and tools related to this technology, as well as the diagnosis of the expectations you have in this area.
The research has shown that the concept of generative artificial intelligence is not alien to us, as the University of Lodz community, although the level of use of available tools is quite diverse in individual employee groups (research, teaching, research and teaching and administrative staff).
You certainly allow for the possibility of using generative AI in your workstations, seeing it primarily as an opportunity to improve your digital competences and shorten the time needed to perform existing tasks, including administrative tasks or those related to collecting research material (e.g. bibliographic review). You also underlined the possibilities of enriching your teaching materials and existing teaching methods this way, and in the case of administrative employees, also the chance to eliminate human error, especially in relation to data analysis.
You are aware of the number of challenges associated with the use of generative AI systems and tools. Your concerns primarily related to the weakening of the position of employees who will not have sufficient competences in using this technology, as well as the potential risk of excessive dependence on generative AI. Teaching, research as well as research and teaching staff were also concerned about the need for potential modification of the system for assessing and verifying students' knowledge and potential changes in the education process (e.g. limiting traditional methods). Administrative staff, on the other hand, pointed to aspects related to the potential risk of losing data, e.g. confidential or personal, held by the university. You also believe that the use of GenAI tools at the University of Lodz requires internal university regulations. Current guidelines in this area are available in the Recommendations tab on the following website: https://www.uni.lodz.pl/en/about-the-university/councils/generative-ai-team-at-the-university-of-lodz
You are interested in exchanging your experiences during internal, national and international conferences, and you would also like the university to provide you with access to selected GenAI tools that facilitate work. At the same time, you expect training that will systematically improve competences in the practical use of generative AI tools, taking into account the needs of employees representing various areas of the university's activity.
Training sessions carried out as part of the "Power of Didactics" project, aimed at developing digital competences of our employees will be the answer to some of your expectations. They will concern, among other things, the practical use of generative AI systems and tools, taking into account legal and ethical issues. The training sessions will start this year. You will be informed about the specific dates and rules of participation soon.
On behalf of the Generative AI Team at the University of Lodz,
dr Dominika Kaczorowska-Spychalska
Source: Generative AI Team at the University of Lodz
Edit: Communications and PR Centre, University of Lodz