GENERATIVE AI IN HIGHER EDUCATION: A STUDY OF FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS' VIEWS ON USE AND REGULATION

The widespread access to Generative AI (GenAI) tools in university settings presents challenges and opportunities, prompting discussions on appropriate policies and strategies. This paper reports a preliminary study aimed at informing these strategies by incorporating students' perspectives. Analyzing survey responses from 272 first-year students at a Catalan institution, it reveals their familiarity with GenAI and attitudes towards a "learning agreement for GenAI use". The findings highlight the high usage and acceptance of GenAI, the need for strategies that preserve student agency, and the importance of continuous dialogue and structured frameworks to adapt to GenAI's evolving educational impact.