Bloemfontein, South Africa

University of the Free State

Record status

Policy statusReviewed evidence-backed recordReview: Agent reviewedClaim coverage7 reviewedEvidence-backed claims7Reviewed7Candidate0Official sources2Source languageenPublic JSON/api/public/v1/universities/university-of-the-free-state.json

Policy profile

Coverage score85/100Coverage labelbroad public coverageReview: Machine candidateAnalysis confidence78%

AI disclosure

No source-backed public claim about AI disclosure or acknowledgement is present in this profile.

The current public tracker record does not contain claim evidence about disclosing, acknowledging, citing, or declaring AI use.

Not MentionedMachine candidateConfidence0%Evidence0Sources0

Privacy and data entry

University of the Free State has 1 source-backed public claim for privacy and data entry; deterministic analysis status: recommended.

RecommendedMachine candidateConfidence77%Evidence1Sources1

Research guidance

University of the Free State has 1 source-backed public claim for research guidance; deterministic analysis status: recommended.

RecommendedMachine candidateConfidence80%Evidence1Sources1

Security and procurement

No source-backed public claim about AI security review or procurement is present in this profile.

The current public tracker record does not contain claim evidence about security review, procurement, vendor approval, risk assessment, authentication, SSO, or enterprise licensing.

Not MentionedMachine candidateConfidence0%Evidence0Sources0

AI tools

Derived tool records0

No tool-level evidence is published for this record yet. Broad AI tool mentions are not expanded into named tool conclusions.

Evidence-backed claims

7 reviewed evidence-backed public claim

Source Status

The University of the Free State has a Senate-approved AI Position Statement that covers both generative and assistive AI technologies across teaching and learning, research, and administrative tasks.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence94%

Normalized value: senate_approved_ai_position_statement_scope

Oorspronkelijk bewijs

Evidence 1
Approved at Senate 27 May 2025. Within this statement, AI includes both generative and assistive AI technologies in the completion of a wide range of teaching and learning, research, and administrative tasks.

Ai Tool Treatment

UFS states that it does not impose a blanket restriction on AI use, while noting that advantages, disadvantages, and implications need to be considered in different UFS spheres.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence93%

Normalized value: no_blanket_ai_restriction_with_contextual_consideration

Oorspronkelijk bewijs

Evidence 1
Informed by the goals of Vision 130 the UFS does not impose a blanket restriction on the use of AI as it believes that by using new and emerging technologies the quality of learning, teaching, research, and business processes could be enhanced.

Academic Integrity

UFS identifies academic rigour, integrity, and honesty as a guiding principle for AI use and says AI integration should not undermine academic integrity, ethics, and honesty.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence93%

Normalized value: ai_integration_should_not_undermine_integrity

Oorspronkelijk bewijs

Evidence 1
Academic rigour, integrity and honesty: In embracing the potentials of AI, it is imperative to uphold the fundamental principles of academic integrity and ethical conduct in higher education. The integration of AI should, therefore, not undermine the core values of academic rigour, integrity, ethics, and honesty.

Academic Integrity

UFS announced that it will discontinue the use of AI detection software across all faculties and academic activities from 1 July 2026.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence92%

Normalized value: ai_detection_discontinued_all_faculties_activities_2026_07_01

Oorspronkelijk bewijs

Evidence 1
The University of the Free State (UFS) will discontinue the use of AI detection software across all faculties and academic activities from 1 July 2026, signalling a major shift in how the institution approaches academic integrity in an increasingly AI-enabled higher education environment.

Privacy

UFS lists respect and awareness as an AI guiding principle, including respect for individuals' privacy and data security and awareness of potential social and environmental harm.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence91%

Normalized value: ai_tools_respect_privacy_data_security_harm_awareness

Oorspronkelijk bewijs

Evidence 1
Respect and awareness: Ensure the use of AI tools to respect individuals' privacy, and data security, and to mitigate and raise awareness of potential social and environmental harm.

Teaching

UFS says AI literacy and skills should be developed as part of digital competencies across all levels of the institution, with students, staff, and stakeholders supported to use AI tools effectively and responsibly.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence90%

Normalized value: ai_literacy_and_support_across_ufs

Oorspronkelijk bewijs

Evidence 1
AI literacy and skills should be developed as part of the digital competencies across all levels within the UFS. Students, staff, and stakeholders should be supported to use AI tools effectively and responsibly.

Academic Integrity

UFS reaffirmed that students remain responsible for producing original work and using generative AI tools honestly and appropriately within institutional guidelines.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence90%

Normalized value: student_responsibility_original_work_honest_appropriate_genai_use

Oorspronkelijk bewijs

Evidence 1
For students, the shift means that AI detection tools will no longer form part of assessment or academic integrity processes. At the same time, the university reaffirmed that students remain responsible for producing original work and for using generative AI tools honestly and appropriately within institutional guidelines.

Candidate claims

0 machine or needs-review claim

Official sources

2 source attribution

Change log

Last checkedMay 26, 2026Last changedMay 26, 2026Open change log

Corrections

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