Artificial intelligence (AI) use, guided by ethics, was examined vis-a-vis its integration into Catholic higher education. In the study “Catholic higher education interface with AI: diversions and intersections,” Institute of Religion academic researchers Asst. Prof. Leo-Martin Angelo R. Ocampo, MA and Inst. Ivan Efreaim A. Gozum, MA, found that educators must balance technology’s effectiveness in promoting education’s humanistic character in the shifting academic landscape.
Their present research examines the evolving relationship between Catholic higher education and online learning in view of the emergence of artificial intelligence, exploring both the challenges and opportunities AI presents in the context of Catholic higher education institutions. It highlights AI鈥檚 fast-evolving role in Catholic universities, comparing global perspectives, particularly UNESCO鈥檚 guidelines, with official Catholic Church teachings. Identifying points of convergence and divergence, the research underlines areas where the official Catholic stance on the use of educational technology aligns or disagrees with current global trends, offering insights for educators, church leaders, and policymakers.
As they zeroed in on the topic through UNESCO and Church documents, the Thomasian researchers encountered a strong reticence from the Church in embracing the said technology as it favored genuine human interaction in honing students.聽At the same time, the article argues that 鈥渙nline learning can promote interpersonal relationships, and virtual networks can be a place of human connection,鈥� as Pope Francis himself acknowledges. As learning institutions worldwide grapple with AI-driven changes, the paper calls for responsible AI integration, while ensuring that human interaction and the Church鈥檚 educational mission remain central to learning, helping Catholic higher education institutions align technological progress with their identity and mission.
The study was included in the International Studies in Catholic Education journal Volume 16, Issue 2, 2024. It was published online by Taylor & Francis Group.
Ocampo is also a research associate at the Center for Theology, Religious Studies and Ethics and one of the pioneering instructors in UST鈥檚 Mastertrack Specialist Certificate Program on AI Learning and Development where he gives lectures and facilitates workshops on the ethical and responsible integration of AI. Meanwhile, Gozum has published articles on the ethical use of AI, particularly in the healthcare context.
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