Generative AI tools are now part of professional practice in IT, networking and cyber security. WinSYS City Campus does not ban them. We do require that their use is honest, disclosed where it matters, and never a substitute for the learner's own understanding.
1. The principle
An assessment measures what you can do. Any use of AI that makes the assessment measure the tool instead of you is not permitted, whatever the tool is called.
2. Normally acceptable
- Explaining a concept you find difficult, in the same way you might use a textbook or a tutor.
- Generating practice questions, revision summaries or worked examples for your own study.
- Checking spelling, grammar or clarity of writing that is already your own.
- Debugging your own code by asking why it behaves as it does, where the assignment brief permits it.
3. Not acceptable
- Submitting AI-generated text, code, diagrams or analysis as your own work.
- Using AI to produce work for an assessment that tests the skill the AI performed.
- Using AI to fabricate data, references, screenshots or laboratory evidence.
- Using AI during an examination or controlled assessment where it is prohibited.
4. Declaring use
Where an assignment brief requires a declaration, state which tool you used and for what. A brief, honest declaration is never penalised. Concealing use is treated as malpractice under our Academic Integrity policy.
5. What the brief says wins
Individual assignment briefs may permit more or less than this page, because some assessments exist precisely to test unaided skill. Where the brief and this page differ, the brief applies.
6. Accuracy remains your responsibility
AI tools produce confident text that is sometimes wrong, and invent citations that do not exist. If you submit it, you own it โ including the errors.
7. Data protection when using AI
Do not enter personal data about other people, confidential employer information, or material provided to you in confidence into a public AI tool. Doing so may breach data-protection law as well as this policy.
8. How staff use AI
Staff may use AI to support planning and preparation. Assessment decisions, feedback on learner work and academic judgements remain the responsibility of a qualified human assessor and are internally verified.