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HKUST Public Policy Bulletin Issue No.13

Embracing Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools in Higher Education: A Survey Study at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

 

Jingwei HE, Alex, Zhuoni ZHANG, Pritish ANAND, Sean McMINN

 

 

The rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence(GenAI) tools, especially ChatGPT, is significantly reshaping the landscape of higher education. As universities worldwide integrate these technologies, understanding their effects on student learning and development becomes crucial.

 

This study focuses on students at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), one of the pioneering institutions in adopting ChatGPT for educational purposes. By examining students’ behavioural and perceptual experiences with ChatGPT, the research aims to reveal how students perceive the usefulness of GenAI tools such as ChatGPT for their study and career development.

 

The findings are expected to inform higher education policymakers and administrators about how the opportunities and challenges posed by GenAI integration require targeted interventions for different demographics, such as gender, age group, and level of study. Furthermore, this study underscores the necessity of developing robust AI literacy programs to ensure that all students can leverage these tools effectively, promoting

     

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    Authors

    Alex Jingwei He is an Associate Professor of the Division of Public Policy
    at The Hong Kong University of Science
    and Technology, where he also serves
    as the Acting Director of the Institute
    for Public Policy. He specializes in policy
    process theories, policy innovation, and social policy. He has been ranked as the world’s top 2% most cited
    scientists since 2021.

    Zhuoni ZHANG is an Associate Professor in the Urban Governance and Design Thrust at the Society Hub of HKUST (GZ). Her research interests include Urban studies, social stratification, and population migration. Her research outputs were published in high-profile journals. Recently, she has been working on urban studies that emphasise interdisciplinary socio-spatial comparative analysis, knowledge transfer, and social impact.

    Pritish ANAND is a PhD student in
    the Division of Public Policy at The
    Hong Kong University of Science and
    Technology. He holds a Master’s degree
    in Public Policy. His research areas
    include social policy, gender inequality,
    and digital education, particularly in lower-middleincome countries. His work explores how institutions, society, and political economy shape social policy
    interventions and affect public attitudes, actions, and citizen-state relations in the Global South. Prior to his
    research journey, Pritish worked with various educational and social sector organizations on education, digital
    literacy, and gender-targeted projects.

    Sean MCMINN is the Director of the
    Center for Education Innovation at The
    Hong Kong University of Science and
    Technology (HKUST). His role includes Leading the development of digital education at the HKUST. Sean also
    currently sits on multiple international
    committees, including the AI and Education International Panel, Digital Education Council, and the Cyber-Physical Learning Alliance. He has won various awards for his work in digital education, including the 2024 Global
    MOOC and Online Education Alliance (GMA) Award for his work in AI Education, the 2016 School of Humanities and Social Science (SHSS) Teaching Excellence Award and the Excellence Award and the 2007 Teaching Innovation Award for his work with podcasts and education at HKUST.

     

    Further reading

    Jingwei He, Alex, Zhuoni Zhang, Pritish Anand, and Sean McMinn. "Embracing generative artificial intelligence tools in higher education: a survey study at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology." Journal of Asian Public Policy (2025): 1-25.