ChatGPT and artificial intelligence in higher education: quick start guide

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Organisation(s)

UNESCO

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Topic(s)

Teaching and Learning Practice

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CC BY-SA

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PDF

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Description

This Quick Start Guide introduces ChatGPT, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool that has taken the world by storm, reaching 100 million users just two months after being launched. The Quick Start Guide provides an overview of how ChatGPT works and explains how it can be used in higher education. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rapidly developing field. This guide is based on GPT-3.5, the latest free version of ChatGPT available at the time of writing. As well as dynamic changes in technology, the ethical implications of ChatGPT and other forms of AI are also swiftly advancing. Readers are advised to constantly check reliable sources for the latest news and updates.

Benefit of this resource and how to make the best use of it

The Quick Start Guide raises some of the main challenges and ethical implications of AI in higher education and offers practical steps that higher education institutions can take. This Quick Start Guide was published in April 2023.

Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)

This work is licensed under a CC BY-SA license, allowing adaptation and sharing with proper attribution, provided derivative works use the same license.

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
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UNESCO (2023). Chatgpt and artificial intelligence in higher education: quick start guide. National Resource Hub (Ireland). Retrieved from: https://hub.teachingandlearning.ie/resource/chatgpt-and-artificial-intelligence-in-higher-education-quick-start-guide/ License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA).

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Related OER

This resource captures key insights from a full-day workshop held on 8 May 2025, hosted by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and led by internationally recognised expert Dr Alison Cook-Sather. The event focused on the transformative potential of authentic student-staff partnerships as a strategic approach to advancing student engagement, success, and institutional effectiveness.

Attended by academic staff, institutional leaders, student success professionals, and sector partners from across Ireland, the workshop featured a combination of keynote presentations, lightning talks, and interactive sessions. Through real-world examples and hands-on activities, participants explored how to build meaningful, inclusive, and sustainable collaboration between students and staff.

For the full event schedule and a complete list of lightning talk contributors to this slide deck, visit the workshop schedule.

This survey was adapted from a North American Faculty OER Survey Toolkit for use in the Irish Higher Education context. It was used across the DOERs project partner sites to audit staff Open Educational Resources and Open Educational Practices awareness and practices. We encourage other institutions to adapt this tool to meet their needs.

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