Challenges and Opportunities about ChatGPT in Higher Education: A Qualitative Study about University Teachers in Pakistan

Abstract

Gathering data from eight Pakistani university teachers through semi-structured interviews, this study investigated their perceptions about the use of ChatGPT, the benefits and opportunities it brings, and concerns and challenges about its use in higher education in Pakistan. Out of eight teachers, only four had used it. All of them believed that despite institutional restrictions, it was quite frequently used in the higher education sector in Pakistan. Some thought it was more commonly used by the students than the teachers. Teachers reported its ability to generate human-like text, give feedback to work, develop assessment and evaluation activities, find answers to questions, assist in research work, and save time by doing mundane and clerical work as its key benefits. In contrast, degrading students' writing skills through overreliance on it, and its contributions to plagiarism and academic fraud were reported to be the main challenges. Five teachers were against allowing the students to use ChatGPT for their academic work while three advocated for allowing it officially. However, all of them suggested developing proper policies and practices, creating awareness, and organizing seminars and workshops to create awareness and develop skills for its fair and productive use.