2026, no. 9
PHILOSOPHY & SOCIOLOGY

MANAGING SOCIOLOGICAL RISKS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION: A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES (RUSSIA, USA, CHINA, EUROPE)

Grigorii A. Chernichuk, Dmitry V. KataevORCID

DOI 10.20339/am.09-26.042pp. 42–49UDC 378-042:004(100)80 RUB

PDF

Bookmark

Abstract

The integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) into higher education creates new sociological risks: widening socioeconomic inequality, erosion of teacher professional autonomy, algorithmic bias, privacy threats, and the commercialization of educational activities. This article aims to identify and compare institutional policies governing the use of AI in universities. The empirical basis comprises the results of a content analysis of official documents and regulations from eight leading universities in Russia, the USA, China, and Europe, as well as regional universities in the Lipetsk region. The study identifies four governance models: decentralized (USA), centralized (China), ethical (Europe), and hybrid (leading Russian universities). A critical gap is revealed between metropolitan and regional Russian universities in the development of formal AI policies. While leading universities have detailed codes addressing academic integrity, transparency, and data protection, regional universities lack formal policies and focus primarily on technological infrastructure. The article substantiates the necessity of developing institutional policies for regional universities that include requirements for transparency, human oversight, and data protection.

References

  1. Bouakaz, L., Khalid, S. AI in education: a sociological exploration of technology in learning environments. Frontiers in Education. 2025. Vol. 10. Article 1700876. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1700876
    DOI 10.3389/feduc.2025.1700876
  2. Röhl, T. Machine teaching? Teachers’ professional agency in the age of algorithmic tools in education. British Journal of Sociology of Education. 2025. Pp. 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/01425692.2025.2495625
    DOI 10.1080/01425692.2025.2495625
  3. Kornienko, N.A. The meanings and value-based risks of applying artificial intelligence in the educational sphere. Professional Education in the Modern World. 2025. Vol. 15. No. 4. Pp. 724–745. https://doi.org/10.20913/2224-1841-2025-4-14. (In Russian).
    DOI 10.20913/2224-1841-2025-4-14
  4. Beck, U. Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity. London: SAGE Publications, 1992. 272 p.
  5. Latour, B. Reassembling the Social: An Introduction to Actor- Network-Theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005. 301 p.
  6. van Dijk, J. The Digital Divide. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2020. 208 p.
  7. Krippendorff, K. Content Analysis: An Introduction to Its Methodology. 4th ed. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications, 2018. 472 p.
  8. Aristombayeva, M., Satybaldiyeva, R., Maung, B.M., Lee, D. Guiding the uncharted: the emerging (and missing) policies on Generative AI in higher education. Frontiers in Education. 2025. Vol. 10. Article 1644081. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1644081
    DOI 10.3389/feduc.2025.1644081
  9. Harvard University. HGSE Policy on Student Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Academic Work; Generative AI Guidance [Electronic resource]. 2025. URL: https://registrar.gse.harvard.edu/learning/policies-forms/ai-policy; https://oue.fas.harvard.edu/faculty-resources/generative-ai-guidance/ (accessed: 2026-08-16).
    registrar.gse.harvard.eduoue.fas.harvard.edu
  10. Faculty of Economics, Lomonosov Moscow State University. Rules for the Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools by Students of the Faculty of Economics, Lomonosov Moscow State University: working version prepared in November–December 2025 and discussed by the Faculty Curriculum Committee on 3 December 2025. Moscow: Faculty of Economics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 2025. 2 p. URL: https://www.econ.msu.ru/sys/raw.php?o=136693&p=attachment (accessed: 2026-08-16). (In Russian).
    econ.msu.ru
  11. HSE University. Declaration of Ethical Principles for the Creation and Use of Artificial Intelligence Systems at HSE University: approved by the HSE University Academic Council on 26 June 2024, Minutes No. 09; enacted by HSE University Order No. 6.18-01/020824-3 of 2 August 2024. Moscow: HSE University, 2024. 3 p. URL: https://www.hse.ru/docs/969670638.html (accessed: 2026-08-16). (In Russian).
    hse.ru
  12. Ural Federal University. Policy on the Introduction and Use of Artificial Intelligence Systems in the Educational, Research, and Administrative Activities of Ural Federal University: SMK-P-15-02-2025; approved by Rector’s Order No. 0896/03 of 2 October 2025; effective from 1 October 2025. Yekaterinburg: Ural Federal University, 2025. 15 p. (In Russian).
  13. Tsinghua University. Tsinghua University releases comprehensive guiding principles for AI use in education [Electronic resource]. 2025. URL: https://www.tsinghua.edu.cn/en/info/1245/14598.htm (accessed: 2026-05-13).
    tsinghua.edu.cn
  14. ETH Zurich. Information Security and Artificial Intelligence (AI): Responsible Use of AI [flyer; Electronic resource]. Zurich: ETH Zurich, September 2025. 2 p. URL: https://ethz.ch/content/dam/ethz/associates/services/News/service-news/2025/09/250923-ki-leitfaden/ETH-InfoSec-AI-Flyer-EN.pdf (accessed: 2026-08-16).
    ethz.ch
  15. Siddiqi, M. New Digital Divide in the Age of AI: Equity and Access in Higher Education. New Directions for Community Colleges. 2026. Article cc.70051. https://doi.org/10.1002/cc.70051
    DOI 10.1002/cc.70051
  16. Rozhkov, G.A. Artificial Intelligence at School: Good or Evil? VCIOM News. 21 April 2025. URL: https://wciom.ru/analytical-reviews/analiticheskii-obzor/iskusstvennyi-intellekt-v-shkole-dobro-ili-zlo (accessed: 2026-05-18). (In Russian).
    wciom.ru
  17. Drach, V.E., Torkunova, Yu.V. Digital Turbulence in Higher Education: AI as a Challenge to Academic Identity. Discourse. 2025. Vol. 11. No. 4. Pp. 61–75. https://doi.org/10.32603/2412-8562-2025-11-4-61-75. (In Russian).
    DOI 10.32603/2412-8562-2025-11-4-61-75
  18. Giddens, A. The Consequences of Modernity. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1990. 186 p.
  19. Lipetsk State Technical University (LSTU). Organization Standard. Student Papers. General Formatting Requirements: approved by the rector on 1 February 2016. Lipetsk: LSTU, 2016. 36 p. (In Russian).
  20. Lipetsk State Pedagogical University (LSPU). Guidelines for Completing Written Tests: approved by the Department of Mathematics and Physics on 2 June 2025. Lipetsk: LSPU, 2025. 7 p. (In Russian).
  21. Lipetsk State Pedagogical University (LSPU). Guidelines for Preparing and Defending a Course Paper: approved by the Department of Mathematics and Physics on 2 June 2025. Lipetsk: LSPU, 2025. 25 p. (In Russian).
  22. Lipetsk State Pedagogical University (LSPU). Guidelines for Students’ Research Work: approved by the Department of Mathematics and Physics on 2 June 2025. Lipetsk: LSPU, 2025. 14 p. (In Russian).
  23. Lipetsk State Pedagogical University (LSPU). Guidelines: Fundamentals of Students’ Independent Educational and Research Activity: approved by the Department of Mathematics and Physics on 2 June 2025. Lipetsk: LSPU, 2025. 36 p. (In Russian).