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.
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.
claim-ufs-no-blanket-ai-restriction-2025
AI Position Statement, institutional position paragraph
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
UFS reaffirmed that students remain responsible for producing original work and using generative AI tools honestly and appropriately within institutional guidelines.
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.
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.
claim-ufs-no-blanket-ai-restriction-2025
AI Position Statement, institutional position paragraph
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
UFS reaffirmed that students remain responsible for producing original work and using generative AI tools honestly and appropriately within institutional guidelines.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
claim-ufs-no-blanket-ai-restriction-2025
AI Position Statement, institutional position paragraph
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.
UFS reaffirmed that students remain responsible for producing original work and using generative AI tools honestly and appropriately within institutional guidelines.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
UFS reaffirmed that students remain responsible for producing original work and using generative AI tools honestly and appropriately within institutional guidelines.
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.
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.
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.
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.
No source-backed public claim about AI security review or procurement is present in this profile.
Security and procurementUniversity of the Free State
Not mentioned in reviewed sources
Status & scope
Scope stated in the cited claims
Original official evidence
No reviewed evidence is included for this topic. This does not establish that no rule exists.
Record updatesLast 90 days
Updates to this site's reviewed record, not confirmation that the university changed its policy.
Update records are not available for this page yet.
Reviewed record
Reviewed claims
7 reviewed claims
Academic Integrity 3 reviewed claims
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.
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.
Source language
English (en)
Snapshot hash
5baa9bee…
Retrieved
May 26, 2026
Evidence locator
AI Position Statement, guiding principles
Academic Integrity
UFS announced that it will discontinue the use of AI detection software across all faculties and academic activities from 1 July 2026.
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.
Source language
English (en)
Snapshot hash
1a90ebf9…
Retrieved
May 26, 2026
Evidence locator
News item, opening paragraph
Academic Integrity
UFS reaffirmed that students remain responsible for producing original work and using generative AI tools honestly and appropriately within institutional guidelines.
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.
Source language
English (en)
Snapshot hash
1a90ebf9…
Retrieved
May 26, 2026
Evidence locator
News item, student impact paragraph
Teaching 1 reviewed claim
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.
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.
Source language
English (en)
Snapshot hash
5baa9bee…
Retrieved
May 26, 2026
Evidence locator
AI Position Statement, guiding principles
Privacy 1 reviewed claim
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.
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.
Source language
English (en)
Snapshot hash
5baa9bee…
Retrieved
May 26, 2026
Evidence locator
AI Position Statement, guiding principles
AI tool use 1 reviewed claim
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.
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.
Source language
English (en)
Snapshot hash
5baa9bee…
Retrieved
May 26, 2026
Evidence locator
AI Position Statement, institutional position paragraph
Source Status 1 reviewed 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.
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.
Source language
English (en)
Snapshot hash
5baa9bee…
Retrieved
May 26, 2026
Evidence locator
PDF title and opening definition section
Source record
Official sources
2 sources
2 official URLs; 2 source attributions and their captured versions retained.
UFS shifts academic integrity approach in AI era
www.ufs.ac.za
University official source
ufs.ac.za
Hash and captured version
UFS shifts academic integrity approach in AI era · 2026-05-26T05:09:00.000Z
Representation unspecified in this historical record; do not assume an original-file hash.
Citation: University AI Policy Tracker. "University of the Free State AI Policy Tracker record." Last checked May 26, 2026. https://eduaipolicy.org/universities/university-of-the-free-state
Original university source language remains canonical. This tracker is not an official university statement.
Saved from University AI Policy Tracker. This record summarizes the cited sources; it is not an official university statement or assessment permission. Source and review dates are listed above. Hashes identify retained content, not authorization.
Questions students ask
Questions students ask
Can I use AI for my coursework?
University of the Free State has 5 source-backed public claims for coursework; deterministic analysis status: restricted.
