The responsible use of AI - A New Module for Worcester Business School

"The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape society, education, and the labour market. The POST‑16 Education and Skills White Paper (HM Government, 2025) highlights the growing need for AI‑related capabilities across the curriculum to meet emerging economic demands. While AI offers opportunities for innovation and growth, it also brings challenges. The World Economic Forum (2025) identifies misinformation, disinformation, and AI‑generated inaccuracies as significant global risks. Although the University of Worcester’s (2024) pro‑AI position statement encourages engagement with AI in education, it also underscores the importance of ensuring responsible use to safeguard critical learning. Within Worcester Business School (WBS), irresponsible use of AI has contributed to a notable rise in academic integrity issues.

To address these challenges and support students in developing essential digital capabilities, WBS has created the University’s first whole‑school ‘Responsible AI’ module (launching September 2026). The module teaches students to use AI ethically and critically, including skills such as prompt engineering and evaluating accuracy in information and dissemination. Its inclusive assessment strategy is designed to ensure equitable access to learning, offering varied assessment modes and opportunities for students to demonstrate understanding through choice, creativity, and authentic tasks. The ‘design, build, test’ assessment model provides practical experience aligned with diverse career pathways, enabling students to apply AI responsibly in real‑world contexts. With its emphasis on ethical practice, inclusion, and digital confidence, the module has strong potential for adoption across the wider University.

References:

HM Government (2025) Post-16 Education and Skills (Cp1412). Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69148532db01ecfcf96fc849/Post-16_Education_and_Skill… (Accessed: 24 February 2026).

World Economic Forum (2025) The Global Risks Report 2025 - 20th Edition. Available at: https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Global_Risks_Report_2025.pdf (Accessed: 24 February 2026).

University of Worcester (2024) Position Statement on the use of generative AI tools in teaching, learning and assessment. Available at: https://www.worcester.ac.uk/documents/policies/PositionStatementGenAI.pdf (Accessed: 24 February 2026).   "