Generative AI in Higher Education Teaching & Learning: Evidence for the HEA's National Policy Framework

This document provides the evidence base underpinning the Higher Education Authority’s National Policy Framework on Generative AI in Teaching and Learning. It synthesises international policy, regulatory guidance, sectoral consultation, and peer-reviewed research to support coherent, values-led decision-making across Irish higher education.

The analysis situates generative AI within European and Irish public-sector governance frameworks, including the European Commission’s Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI, national guidance on responsible AI use in the public service, and recent advice from the Government of Ireland’s AI Advisory Council. It combines these reference points with findings from a national HEA consultation involving institutional leaders, academic and professional staff, and student representatives, capturing the lived realities of teaching, assessment, governance, and equity in an AI-saturated educational environment.

The review identifies durable principles and emerging empirical consensus. It addresses assessment integrity, the limitations of AI detection tools, curriculum and assessment redesign, staff and student AI literacy, inclusion and accessibility, institutional governance, and the public responsibilities of universities as civic institutions. The analysis is grounded in a wide body of international research literature, including systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and critical policy scholarship.

The document is intended to inform national policy development, support institutional strategy, and provide a stable reference for educators, leaders, policymakers, and researchers engaged in the governance and pedagogical integration of generative AI in higher education. It should be read alongside the HEA’s National Policy Framework and associated resources hosted on the HEA Generative AI Resource Portal.