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Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing higher education and research in Morocco, according to a recent survey that explores its impact through surveys of both teachers and students. The study, entitled «The impact of artificial intelligence on research and higher education in Morocco», focuses on AI's transformative influence, benefits, challenges, and future potential in Moroccan universities.
Researchers Ghizlane Moukhliss, Khalid Lahyani and Ghizlane Diab administered a structured questionnaire to university teachers across different institutions. The survey revealed that only 38% of the surveyed teachers were somewhat familiar with AI tools, while 29% were moderately familiar and 10% not at all familiar.
Despite the varying levels of familiarity, many teachers reported using AI tools in teaching and research. In fact, 67% of those surveyed had used AI-based tools before. The remaining 33% had never used them.
AI use anxiety
For those who did use AI tools, the main applications included translation, proofreading, plagiarism detection, and creating or adapting teaching materials. The study also found that AI is used in a few courses at 53% of institutions, while 35% of institutions haven't adopted it yet.
While some teachers acknowledged the usefulness of AI tools, others expressed concerns. These concerns included needing more training and fearing a lack of control over the technology.
Quantitatively, 53% of teachers were apprehensive about using AI for teaching, 42% worried about using it incorrectly, and 64% believed they could easily learn how to use it. Notably, 97% of teachers felt they needed additional training, and 91% believed AI had influenced or improved their research activities to some degree.
The student survey showed that most participants were familiar with AI tools and believed they could improve learning. The majority of respondents were Ph.D. (44%) and bachelor's (40%) students.
ChatGPT most popular AI tool among students
In terms of familiarity, 40% of students were moderately familiar with AI tools, while 32% were somewhat familiar. The most popular tool among students was ChatGPT, followed by Midjourney (6.22%), Bard (4.53%), and OpenAI (2.50%).
Students reported using AI tools for tasks like information retrieval, translation, and writing improvement. However, some students also worried that AI could lead to cheating or laziness.
While over 17% of students reported improvements in their studies due to AI tools, 82% did not notice any significant benefits.
The study suggests that AI has the potential to be a valuable tool for education in Morocco. However, it is important to address teacher concerns and ensure that AI is used ethically and responsibly.
