A new overview report – Global and EU policies, recommendations and guidelines on AI use in higher education – has been developed and published within the Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership project EHEAII. The report was prepared on the basis of desk research and analysis of European and international policy documents relevant to the responsible integration of AI in higher education.
The publication maps and analyses sixteen EU-level and global policies, recommendations and guidelines that shape the strategic, ethical and operational context for artificial intelligence in higher education. It focuses on how these instruments influence teaching and learning, assessment and academic integrity, research governance, digital and AI competence development, data governance and institutional decision-making.
The report highlights that, although many of the analysed documents are not legally binding, they play an important role in defining priorities, expectations and good practices for higher education institutions. It brings together key documents issued by the European Commission, the European University Association, the European Students’ Union, ENQA, UNESCO, OECD and other relevant bodies, offering a structured overview for universities, educators, researchers and institutional leaders.
Among the analysed documents are the European Commission’s Ethical Guidelines on the Use of AI and Data in Teaching and Learning for Educators, the AI Continent Action Plan COM(2025) 165, UNESCO’s Guidance for Generative AI in Education and Research, OECD AI principles, and several higher education-specific position papers and reports on academic integrity, digital competence and research assessment.
The analysis of the reviewed documents shows that a consistent set of core principles appears across the majority of policies, recommendations, and guidelines on AI in higher education. These principles reflect a shared understanding of how AI should be introduced and used responsibly within academic environments. Most documents emphasize ethical and human-centered use of AI, transparency and accountability, the importance of human oversight, and strong data protection standards. In addition, there is a clear focus on maintaining academic integrity, developing digital and AI-related competencies, and ensuring inclusion and accessibility. Together, these recurring principles form a common foundation that guides institutions in implementing AI in a way that is trustworthy, responsible, and aligned with broader societal values.
The report is intended to support higher education institutions in understanding the broader policy environment surrounding AI adoption and in identifying shared priorities related to ethics, transparency, accountability, human oversight, inclusion and institutional responsibility. It also contributes to the EHEAII project’s wider objective of supporting the responsible and effective integration of AI into teaching, learning and institutional processes.
The full report is available HERE.
