Senate Committee Addresses ChatGPT Misuse in Pakistan’s Educational Institutions

Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology, led by Senator Kamal Ali Agha, convened to deliberate on multiple agenda items, including the nomination of five senators to represent the Ministry of Science and Technology’s sub-institutions.

During the session, it was disclosed that the Senate Chairman had proposed five senators for these roles. Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui confirmed that the relevant files had been received, and the official notification for their appointments would be issued shortly.

Minister Siddiqui pointed out an important development that the Right-Sizing Committee had disbanded the Pakistan Council for Science and Technology (PCST). Therefore, as the council’s board is now being disbanded, appointments to the board are no longer possible.

At the meeting,  COMSATS University officials provided the committee with an overview of the difficulties associated with plagiarism and the rising prevalence of AI tools such as ChatGPT in academic research.  Authorities have clarified that the HEC has introduced a tool for checking plagiarism, and the university upholds a strict policy against such misconduct.

Senator Afnan Ullah pressed further on the issue of ChatGPT’s involvement in academic misconduct, leading university representatives to acknowledge that curbing its misuse presents a considerable challenge. It was observed that although ChatGPT has the capability to produce research papers, the emphasis ought to be placed on instructing students and faculty in its constructive application.

The university has commenced faculty training programs focused on ChatGPT, aiming to promote its ethical and effective application in research and academic settings. The gathering highlighted the imperative for educational institutions to embrace new technologies and establish strong frameworks to uphold academic integrity. The committee also emphasized the significance of combining innovation with ethical norms in higher education.