The Centre for Learning and Teaching are excited to announce that James Fern, from the Department for Health, has been appointed as the Academic Lead for Generative AI (GenAI) in Education at the University of Bath for AY25/26.
In this new role, Mr Fern will provide academic leadership and project management for the strategic integration of GenAI across the University’s educational landscape. He will also oversee the GenAI Innovation Fund, supporting the development of GenAI bots and agents that enhance teaching, learning, and assessment.
James co-chairs the Generative AI in Education Oversight Group alongside Dr Chris Bonfield (Director of the Centre for Learning and Teaching), a subcommittee of the Education Advisory Board, which has identified GenAI as a strategic priority for the year ahead.
GenAI: Supporting Students for a Future-Ready Education
As GenAI tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot become increasingly embedded in education and industry, the University is committed to helping students use these technologies effectively, responsibly, and ethically. Our approach focuses on three key areas:
Skills and Knowledge
- The Skills Centre has launched a suite of self-paced resources to build students’ AI literacy, including how Large Language Models (LLMs) work, ethical considerations, and responsible usage. (Here is a corresponding staff-facing guide).
- Dedicated guidance on ethical and legal use is available for both students, and staff.
- Future plans include embedding AI skills into the curriculum as part of the wider employability strategy.
Integrity and Risk
- A sector-leading review of assessments categorised them into three levels of GenAI usage (A/B/C – none/limited/mandatory). Ensuring students and staff have clear expectations of GenAI usage, and an opportunity for staff to undertake a light-touch assessment design review in light of GenAI.
- Based on New research a new two-lane classification system—Secure and Open—has been approved to reflect the evolving nature of GenAI in assessments.
- Updates to the QA53 academic misconduct policy and academic integrity training ensure alignment with OfS requirements.
- The University is proactively designing policies and assessments that anticipate future GenAI capabilities rather than reacting to current limitations.
Opportunities
- In partnership with Amazon Web Services, the University is developing a secure, in-house GenAI platform to host open-source LLMs—ensuring data integrity and cost control.
- Two GenAI bot prototypes are in development:
- An exam preparation tool for students.
- A feedback coach and mentor for staff, aligned with National Student Survey (NSS) themes.
- There are plans to support students and staff in building their own GenAI tools, tapping into the creativity and innovation already emerging across the University.
This is an exciting time for GenAI in education.
