On November 28, Fudan University officially released the "Regulations on the Use of AI Tools in Undergraduate Theses (Design) (Trial)", which provides detailed guidelines for the application of artificial intelligence tools in the writing process of undergraduate theses. This move marks the first time that a domestic university has published a specialized normative management document in this field, filling a policy gap.
According to the "Regulations," Fudan University allows students to use AI tools under specific conditions. After obtaining the consent of their supervising teachers, students can use AI tools for the following tasks without affecting the assessment of their innovative capabilities:
Literature Search and Organization: Efficiently searching and organizing relevant academic literature using AI tools. Assisted Creation of Charts and Recommendations: Utilizing AI tools to assist in creating charts and recommending appropriate chart types. Assistance with Non-Innovative Methods: Including some non-creative processes or operations. Formatting References: Using AI tools to standardize the format of references. The purpose of these applications is to improve writing efficiency while strictly limiting their use to ensure academic independence and innovation.
Image Source Note: The image was generated by AI, and the image is authorized by the service provider Midjourney.
However, the "Regulations" also clearly define areas where the use of AI tools is prohibited, including: Research Design: AI should not be used for the overall design or framework of the thesis. Innovative Method Design: AI is prohibited from participating in the design of innovative ideas and methods. Data Analysis and Discussion of Results: AI tools cannot replace students in data analysis, result analysis, discussions, and conclusion summaries.
These restrictions aim to ensure that students' theses genuinely reflect their independent thinking and innovative capabilities, avoiding excessive reliance on AI-generated content that could undermine academic integrity.
The university emphasizes that the use of AI technology should not replace students' research work but should serve as an auxiliary tool to help students improve efficiency and optimize processes. While promoting technological innovation, Fudan University also aims to cultivate high-quality talents with a sense of social responsibility and awareness of academic ethics.
As the first normative document in the country addressing the use of AI tools in undergraduate theses (design), the release of the "Regulations" is of significant importance. It not only provides clear operational guidelines for Fudan University's undergraduates but also serves as a reference for other universities in formulating similar policies. With the continuous development of AI technology, how to reasonably use AI tools to promote academic research without compromising academic integrity has become an important issue facing the global education sector.
