Toward Responsible Integration: A Review of Applications, Capabilities, and Perceptions of Generative AI in Higher Education

Ying Qian; Nicholas Bowman

doi:10.3390/educsci16020323

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Toward Responsible Integration: A Review of Applications, Capabilities, and Perceptions of Generative AI in Higher Education

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Toward Responsible Integration: A Review of Applications, Capabilities, and Perceptions of Generative AI in Higher Education

Ying Qian and Nicholas Bowman

Education sciences, Vol.16(2), 323

02/17/2026

DOI: 10.3390/educsci16020323

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https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16020323View

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Abstract

Generative AI (GenAI) has attracted a surge of attention from higher education constituents after OpenAI released ChatGPT in November 2022. While numerous articles discuss applications and perceptions of GenAI in higher education, no comprehensive review has considered commonalities and differences among various educational stakeholder groups and contexts. In this review, we synthesize the applications, capabilities, and perceptions of GenAI in higher education to provide stakeholders (i.e., students, instructors, researchers, staff, and administrators) with insights into this topic to facilitate GenAI integration in higher education. We reviewed 50 relevant empirical articles published from January 2023 to April 2025 on GenAI in higher education. Our findings demonstrate how GenAI has already been applied and present its potential for implementation across teaching and learning, research, and student affairs in higher education. Among various stakeholders in higher education, students hold a more open and positive attitude toward this rising technology, while instructors and researchers hold mixed attitudes toward GenAI usage, and administrators tend to hold an open but cautious attitude toward GenAI implementation. Addressing common stakeholder concerns and needs, we outline institutional strategies for responsible GenAI integration, including launching GenAI learning hubs, formalizing license agreements, redefining academic originality, and implementing pilot programs.

Academic Achievement

Comparative Education

Data Analysis

Higher Education

Transportation

Addition

Artificial Intelligence

Authors

Chatbots

Cheating

Comparative Analysis

Course Content

Data Collection

Educational Assessment

Educational Objectives

Generative artificial intelligence

Influence of Technology

Instructional Innovation

Learner Engagement

Learning

Native Language

Perceptions

Reference Materials

Researchers

School Policy

Stakeholders

Students

Teaching

World Problems

Details

Title: Subtitle: Toward Responsible Integration: A Review of Applications, Capabilities, and Perceptions of Generative AI in Higher Education
Creators: Ying Qian - University of Iowa
Nicholas Bowman - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Education sciences, Vol.16(2), 323
DOI: 10.3390/educsci16020323
ISSN: 2227-7102
eISSN: 2227-7102
Publisher: MDPI AG; Basel
Language: English
Date published: 02/17/2026
Academic Unit: Educational Policy and Leadership Studies; Center for Social Science Innovation
Record Identifier: 9985139269302771

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