The University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, a private university in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is taking the initiative to have an encouraging AI-integrated education curriculum. It can be beneficial to responsibly integrate Artificial Intelligence in higher educational institutes instead of avoiding it altogether. This trend is already seen in many universities and reputable international journals. Academic journals initially prohibited the use of AI in research and writing, but — gradually — the policies are being changed in different reputable international peer-reviewed journals now, including the Applications in Engineering Science, which has published its recent issue in 2026, allowing the use of AI.
In recent trends, it is noticeable that students have a tendency to use AI in their various academic activities, including academic assignments and projects, even if it is not formally allowed in educational institutes in Bangladesh. The widespread availability and accessibility of AI have fundamentally changed the scenario among the students. While AI offers significant educational benefits for students, it has raised concerns, especially about the future of critical thinking. The development of critical thinking among students is being questioned due to the growing overdependency on AI all over the world in various activities, including educational. But there are difficulties in integrating AI, especially in educational institutions, without compromising students’ reasoning abilities.
AI integration into educational activities offers powerful, personalized, and active learning experiences for students. There are several effective approaches to combine AI-assisted learning with applied educational and various extra-curricular activities. AI is being increasingly used in universities and medical institutions in immersive simulations among students and as an intelligent tutoring system. This can also be used as a research assistant — especially for the students who are required to carry out research — and several other ways in academic activities, especially among the students. But there should be specific guidelines, as there are some risks while using AI if these contents are not carefully reviewed, despite having various opportunities.
Undergraduate students should be introduced to academic research from their very first year, though intensive independent research is typically reserved for final-year theses. Learning how to read scholarly articles, understand research structures, and write academic papers with the responsible use of AI can gradually prepare them to become future researchers. By the time they graduate, many could already have publication experience, and they will be more competent when they go overseas for their PhD program. Today, to get funding in foreign universities in higher education, along with the GRE and IELTS, publications are of great importance.
AI can be considered in extracurricular activities to promote critical thinking. Universities across the world have extra-curricular activities like debating. International competitions such as the World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) demonstrate how debating cultivates students’ analytical thinking, effective communication, and intellectual confidence. In debate, Students need to speak for 7 minutes, and they must answer points of Information from the opposition team, while delivering their arguments. Even if students use AI during preparation, though it is not allowed in real debate, they are forced to respond to the answer when they are debating with the opposition team. Consequently, students use their critical thinking ability on the spot.
Whether it is believed or not, AI is no longer a technology of the future — it is already being used and reshaping education and the workplace all over the world. The challenge is not whether students will use AI, but whether universities can teach them to use it wisely, ethically, and critically. The goal with AI in educational institutions should be to graduate students can work with confidence, because they have learned how to remain intellectually independent, not because AI works for them, even if the use of AI is allowed to a certain extent.
AI technology has arrived, and it is very versatile and competitive in the century we have entered. Hence, students in Higher learning institutions like universities should be trained in such a way that they can get their confidence and become competitive after their graduation in the real world. But universities should also prioritize three competencies for undergraduates: logical reasoning, debating, and academic research writing supported by the responsible use of AI.
These skills can strengthen students’ critical thinking, improve their employability at home and abroad, enhance their competitiveness, and increase their chances for fully funded international scholarships. But there must be an emphasis on ethics, especially with the development of pertinent ethical frameworks, for the use of AI among students in academic activities, including their academic research works.
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