The Executive Board of the University of Twente has adopted a statement on artificial intelligence (AI). In this statement, the university highlights the importance of a shared and responsible use of AI within education, research, and operations. AI is not a temporary trend, but a fundamental technology that will continue to shape our university and the society around us.
Responsible use
With this statement, UT takes the first step toward a shared vision and framework for the responsible use of AI. The university aims to harness the opportunities AI offers for innovation and quality, while remaining mindful of the complexity, risks, and ethical considerations involved. AI is not an end in itself, but a means that is only effective when applied thoughtfully and in a socially responsible way.
Learning and developing together
In the coming period, further work will be done on developing an AI portal: a central access point where students, researchers, and staff can find information, guidelines, and examples of AI use within UT. This portal will continue to evolve and will serve as a place to share knowledge, inspire one another, and learn together about the practical applications of AI.
The Executive Board invites everyone to actively contribute to this development. Together, we are building a university in which AI is used responsibly and contributes to high-quality education, innovative research, and societal progress.
Statement on AI at the University of Twente
As a technical university, we regard it as our responsibility to contribute actively to the development and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI is not a passing trend, but a fundamental technology that will have a lasting impact on our university, our teaching, and our research. This requires both a clear position and a framework for action.
With this statement, we take the first step towards a shared vision of AI within our university. It serves as a starting point for further dialogue and collaboration, and we invite everyone to actively engage in considering how we can make responsible use of AI.
We embrace the opportunities that AI offers for research, education, and innovation, while remaining mindful of its complexity and risks. AI is not an end in itself, but a powerful means, effective and legitimate only when deployed in an ethical, legal, and socially responsible manner.
As a university, we operate at the intersection of technology and society. This requires more than technical expertise alone. Socially responsible high tech demands a human touch. We see it as our task not only to apply AI but also to reflect critically on its consequences. We build AI systems, investigate their effects, and examine what AI requires from its users.
In all this, we comply with the applicable laws and regulations. For questions, you can contact the AI Office.
Building responsible use of AI together
Within our university, we want to explore together how AI can be used responsibly. We create space for exploration and innovation, within clear ethical and legal boundaries. Rather than imposing strict limitations, we appeal to professional and academic judgement, and foster a culture of mindful use and mutual knowledge-sharing.
As the Executive Board, we regard AI as a shared responsibility. We encourage the responsible use and study of AI, and we need everyone’s expertise to achieve this. We recognise that this learning process requires guidance. That is why we continue to invest in guidelines, training, and awareness. We actively strengthen AI literacy within our community, enabling students, researchers, and staff alike to apply AI carefully within their own disciplines and contexts.
At present, the university does not yet hold a central licence for generative AI tools such as ChatGPT or other generic AI platforms. Currently, no licensing model fully satisfies the prevailing legal and privacy requirements. We are closely monitoring developments, particularly in relation to the European AI Act and national initiatives. We also participate in national and European collaborations aimed at creating safe, reliable alternatives to generative AI. In this way, we work towards solutions that are better aligned with our academic values and less dependent on commercial providers.
In the meantime, we ask everyone to handle data, copyright, and personal information with care. More information can be found on the central information page on AI and security.
Support and knowledge development
To apply AI responsibly within our university, we are investing in various forms of support. These focus on raising awareness, developing knowledge, and providing appropriate frameworks. We note that these are still evolving.
AI literacy is one of our priorities. By strengthening basic knowledge of AI - technical, legal, and ethical - we enable students, lecturers, researchers, and support staff to make well-informed decisions.
For teaching, the AI in Education Hub of CELT can be used, among other resources. This summer, an AI Literacy Framework was introduced, offering guidelines for the systematic integration of AI literacy in education. Work on its implementation is now underway.
We are also developing a robust AI compliance framework. This includes compliance with relevant legislation (such as the European AI Act) and support with practical questions about the use of AI in research, teaching, and operations.
In addition, we invest in technological alternatives that are more consistent with our academic values and legal requirements. For instance, we are working on a locally hosted Large Language Model (LLM) and are participating in the development of a Dutch SURF LLM platform. These models provide greater control over data and better alignment with the practices of teaching and research.
For questions, please contact: AI-office@utwente.nl
Responsibility and looking ahead
The application of AI within the university is a collective learning process. Responsible use requires ongoing reflection, collaboration, and open dialogue. We count on the engagement of our students and staff, and provide support and guidance.
At the same time, we look ahead. AI will continue to evolve, at a faster pace than most technologies we have seen before. This is why we continue to invest in knowledge, infrastructure, ethical frameworks, and collaboration. Not only within our own institution, but also with partners such as SURF and other universities. Together, we are building a university in which AI is used responsibly and contributes to high-quality teaching, innovative research, and societal progress.
