AI at Brunel

Staff guidance for the use of Generative AI (GenAI)

Audience

All staff involved in teaching and learning. We encourage a programme-level approach to implementing this guidance.

Rationale

  • Promote equity of access, learning, and outcomes for students in the context of GenAI.
  • Support educators in developing GenAI-related skills for teaching and practice - encouraging experimentation and collaboration.
  • Uphold academic integrity and rigour.

Purpose of this guidance

This guidance is:

  •  Grounded in the principles of transparency, support, and academic integrity (Principles for use of Generative AI).
  • Open to feedback and suggestions.
  • Student-centric, enabling staff to prepare students for employment in a GenAI-enabled world.
  • Focused on evaluation, critical reflection, and the development of GenAI skills by all educators.

This guidance is not:

  • Prescriptive - recognising that a one-size-fits-all approach is not feasible across disciplines and levels.
  • Focused on enforcing rules; rather, it encourages a fundamental shift in teaching, learning support, and assessment practices in a GenAI-enabled context.

1. Staff development and awareness

This section supports staff in developing confidence and competence in using GenAI, and in teaching its ethical use within their academic disciplines.

  • Staff should engage in professional development on GenAI, appropriate to their roles and responsibilities. As a minimum, all staff must complete the annual Data Protection and Information Security compliance training. GenAI-related development needs should be discussed during PDRs.
  • Staff involved in teaching, learning, and assessment should continue to develop their understanding and application of GenAI. Opportunities include workshops facilitated by APDU, Digital Education, or College Education Hubs, as well as online resources, MOOCs, or external conferences.
  • Staff are encouraged to share examples of good practice in GenAI use through APDU, departmental meetings, and/or College Education Hubs.

2. GenAI and assessment

  • As GenAI capabilities evolve, traditional assessment strategies may face increasing challenges. The direction of travel should be toward discipline-relevant, authentic or meaningful assessments that remain valid even when students use GenAI.
  • In the short term, discursive changes to assessment practices should be implemented. At a minimum, assessment cover sheets should clearly communicate expectations regarding GenAI use. Detailed rubrics outlining permissible GenAI use are encouraged.
  • Assessments should prepare students for careers and research environments where GenAI is commonly used and valued.
  • Further guidance is available in the Redefining Assessment document. APDU can support departments in reviewing and adapting assessment strategies and sharing good practice across the university.

3. Supporting students

We encourage module and programme leads to explore integrating the BrunOwl AI Study Buddy into Brightspace to enhance student support and reduce administrative workload.

  • From the start of the 2025–26 academic year, a baseline version of the BrunOwl AI Study Buddy will be available across all modules. This baseline version is designed to interact with students using Socratic methods - it'll guide students through learning steps and problem solving; it will not provide answers to problems sets and assignments directly.
  • The Digital Education Team is collaborating with staff and students to co-develop bespoke Study Buddies tailored to individual modules. It's expected that every module will have its own BrunOwl AI Study Buddy by the 2026-27 academic year.
  • Educators will be able to customize their module’s chatbot in tone, content and pedagogical approach.

For questions, email the Digital Education Team at digital.education@brunel.ac.uk

4. Gen-AI resources

  • Guidance on Gen-AI tools is available in the Digital Skills (AI) Resource for Staff.

Authors

This guidance was collaboratively developed by AI SIG members, comprising colleagues from across academic disciplines and professional services and approved by UESEC.

For more information contact digital.education@brunel.ac.uk