ISLAMABAD: The University of Oxford has become the first institution in the United Kingdom to provide its students and staff access to ChatGPT Edu, a version of ChatGPT built for universities that includes enterprise-level security and controls.
In a press release, the university said the decision was made after a successful year-long trial period. The initiative is part of a five-year partnership between Oxford and OpenAI.
“This university-wide rollout follows a successful year-long pilot involving around 750 academics, research staff, postgraduate research students and professional services staff in a wide range of roles across the University and Colleges,” the university said.
Professor Anne Trefethen, the University of Oxford’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Digital, called the move “an exciting step in our ongoing process of digital transformation.”
“There is huge potential for us to harness this to accelerate high-impact, curiosity-led research and innovation, and to facilitate breakthroughs that could address major global challenges,” he said.
He added that the tool would be accessible to all students, supporting personalised learning and encouraging exploration and creativity in academic work.
Jayna Devani, OpenAI’s international education lead, praised Oxford's initiative as "setting a new standard" for AI integration in higher education.
“By making ChatGPT Edu available to everyone, Oxford is equipping all its students, academics, and staff with the AI skills, tools, and training they need to truly benefit from this transformative technology and succeed in the AI era,” she said.
The rollout will be accompanied by comprehensive training on using ChatGPT Edu and other generative AI tools, with a focus on ethical use, critical thinking, and responsible application.
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