Institutional factors and students’ ethical orientations towards artificial intelligence use in Federal Polytechnics in Southwestern Nigeria

This study examined the relationship between institutional factors and students’ reported ethical orientations towards artificial intelligence (AI) use in selected federal polytechnics in Southwestern Nigeria. A descriptive survey design of the correlational type was adopted, involving 501 Higher National Diploma II (HND II) students drawn from four federal polytechnics through a multistage sampling procedure involving the purposive selection of institutions and departments and the random selection of individual respondents. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, while the institutional factors and ethical-orientation scales recorded Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients of 0.82 and 0.87, respectively. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s product–moment correlation. The findings revealed that students expressed a high level of endorsement of ethical AI principles (M = 3.27, SD = 0.827), with transparency (M = 3.34) and inclusiveness (M = 3.33) recording the highest mean scores, followed by accountability and privacy (M = 3.22 each) and fairness (M = 3.20). Similarly, perceived institutional factors recorded an overall mean of 3.11 (SD = 0.70), with administrative and leadership support having the highest mean (M = 3.13), while institutional culture recorded the lowest (M = 3.07). Pearson’s correlation analysis further revealed a moderate, positive and statistically significant relationship between institutional factors and students’ reported ethical orientations towards AI use (r = .572, p < .001), indicating that stronger perceived institutional support was associated with greater endorsement of ethical AI principles. The study concludes that institutional support, particularly through effective leadership, adequate digital infrastructure, clear policies and a supportive institutional culture, is important in promoting students’ understanding and appreciation of responsible AI use. The findings underscore the need for federal polytechnics to strengthen institutional guidance and ethical awareness initiatives to encourage responsible engagement with AI in academic activities.