Tsinghua University, located in Beijing, has introduced the “Tsinghua University Guiding Principles for the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Education” on December 1, 2025. This marks the institution’s first comprehensive framework aimed at providing systematic guidance and norms for the use of AI across its campus, addressing the growing reliance on technology in educational settings.
As generative artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into classrooms and laboratories, students are leveraging AI to enhance their learning experiences. However, this trend has prompted concerns regarding the potential for mental stagnation and excessive dependence on technology. Faculty members are actively seeking innovative ways to incorporate AI into their teaching while grappling with ethical considerations and appropriate usage.
The Guiding Principles are structured into three main sections: General Provisions, Teaching and Learning, and Theses, Dissertations, and Practical Achievements. Collectively, these sections offer a high-level framework along with detailed, scenario-based guidelines that tackle key aspects of teaching and academic research.
Framework Promotes Responsible AI Use
Wang Shuaiguo, Director of the Online Education Center and principal author of the document, emphasized that the Guiding Principles allow for future development. The framework is designed to extend beyond current educational scenarios, incorporating AI into academic research, administrative services, and other emerging applications. “We hope this will not become a document that restricts innovation. It should be a living system—one that continues to grow as the technology evolves,” Wang stated.
The General Provisions section outlines Tsinghua University’s proactive yet cautious approach to AI. It establishes five core principles: responsibility, compliance and integrity, data security, prudence and critical thinking, and fairness and inclusiveness. These principles underline the notion that AI should function as an auxiliary tool, with educators and students as the primary actors in the learning process.
The guidelines require transparency regarding AI usage, explicitly prohibit academic misconduct, and ban the utilization of sensitive or unauthorized data in training or operating AI models. Furthermore, they call for vigilance against errors generated by AI and advocate for multi-source verification to avert cognitive complacency stemming from an overreliance on technology.
Guidelines for Educators and Students
In the Teaching and Learning section, instructors are encouraged to clarify how AI should be utilized based on course objectives and to explain the Guiding Principles to students at the semester’s outset. Faculty are also encouraged to assume responsibility for any AI-generated teaching materials, fostering a balanced and critical understanding of AI among students.
While students are allowed to use AI as a learning tool within course boundaries, the guidelines strictly prohibit copying or mechanically paraphrasing AI-generated content for academic submissions. In the Theses, Dissertations, and Practical Achievements section, the emphasis is placed on ensuring that AI does not replace the essential academic training and independent intellectual work expected of graduate students. Any use of AI for ghostwriting, plagiarism, fabrication, or other forms of misconduct is categorically forbidden. Supervisors are tasked with providing clear instructions on appropriate AI usage and maintaining oversight throughout the research process to uphold academic integrity.
The Guiding Principles reflect Tsinghua University’s commitment to fostering an environment of innovation while also ensuring responsible use of artificial intelligence in education. The university has been actively studying AI’s expanding role in academia and aims to build a shared academic consensus around its applications. Emerging technologies, including AI-powered courses and intelligent campus companions, raise important questions about ethics, responsibility, and authorship.
The drafting of the Guiding Principles began in summer 2024, involving collaboration among various academic and administrative departments. This initiative aims to balance openness to technological advancements with careful oversight and responsible practices. The release of these guidelines signifies a new phase in Tsinghua University’s efforts to integrate AI into educational frameworks, shifting the focus from mere technological advancement to institutional support.
Moving forward, Tsinghua University plans to promote these principles through its AI literacy platform, faculty workshops, and interdisciplinary dialogues. The goal is to guide the university community toward informed and responsible AI usage, fostering a sustainable ecosystem for educational innovation and preparing the next generation to harness and innovate with intelligent technologies. For more information about the Guiding Principles, visit Tsinghua University’s official website and social media channels.
