EXAMINING THE NEXUS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN SELECTED HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS OFFERING CRIMINOLOGY PROGRAM: BASIS FOR POLICY FORMULATION

The main objective of this study is to examine the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within selected higher education institutions (HEIs) offering criminology programs in the Philippines particularly the Taguig City University and Olivarez College which aimed to a propose policy formulation for its effective and ethical use. The research employs a quantitative research approach and assesses two groups of respondents, such as faculty members and students, to determine the extent, nature, and effectiveness of AI integration in criminology curricula. Statistical tools were applied to ascertain the significant differences between the assessments of the two groups of respondents and to examine the relationship between expected benefits and concerns. The potential benefits were explored in terms of personalized learning, virtual teaching assistants, research assistance, assessment tasks, and data analysis which revealed the positive attitude towards integrating AI in education. Subsequently, the research identifies issues and drawbacks involving loss of critical thinking skills, data privacy, rapid cheating, reduced social interactions, and dependency on technology. Findings illustrated notable variations in perceptions, underscoring both the transformative potential and the critical challenges of AI use in criminology education. Regulations and guidelines that strengthen the utilization of artificial intelligence in criminology programs while addressing possible hazards and ethical issues have emerged as a result of this study, which examined AI’s combined impact on education, improving learning while offering new challenges. Based on the results, the study proposes a comprehensive Artificial Intelligence policy framework to guide HEIs in responsibly integrating AI into their criminology programs, ensuring both academic integrity and technological advancement. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), AI Integration, Policy Formulation