AI in higher education: a systematic literature review
Open accessAbstract
Introduction: The increasing reliance on technology within higher education necessitates a thorough examination of artificial intelligence’s (AI) application in academic research. This analysis aims to elucidate both the advantages and challenges associated with AI utilization, thereby paving the way for future inquiries. Such studies will be instrumental in delineating strategies for the effective integration of AI tools in scholarly research, ensuring their optimal use in advancing the field. Objective: The purpose of this research is to identify the benefits and challenges of the use of AI in the field of scientific research by analyzing experiences that have implemented AI in scientific research carried out at the university level through a systematic literature review. Method: The research questions that guided the systematic literature review were as follows: (1) What are the benefits of using AI in research? (2) What are the challenges of using AI in research? (3) What are the use and benefits of AI in scientific writing including limitations? (4) What are the main lines of research identified in studies that address scientific practice with artificial intelligence in the university context? The articles analyzed were published in 2023. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 85 articles were analyzed. Results: The analysis allowed findings such as the usefulness of ChatGPT in different disciplinary areas, challenges such as being able to identify artificial intelligence resources limitations and benefits such as being able to make processes of different kinds more efficient. Discussion: It was possible to establish that although the studies analyzed identified advantages in the application of AI in scientific research, it was also detected that it is necessary to have a critical and creative look to make use of AI resources, such as ChatGPT, in order to use them only as support tools and thus be able to take care of the rigor and quality in the elaboration of scientific texts.
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The existing body of research predominantly focuses on adult learners in higher education, leaving a significant gap in understanding AI's impact on younger learners in K-12 settings, particularly in the EFL context.
“However, the existing body of research predominantly focuses on adult learners in higher education, leaving a significant gap in understanding AI's impact on younger learners in K-12 settings, particularly in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context.”
From AI-Integrated Scaffolding to Enhance Agency and Creativity in K-12 English Language Learners: A Systematic Review (2025) · cites this paper as [11]
The Introduction and section 2.3 (Inclusion, exclusion, and quality criteria; page unavailable) show that this review focuses on AI in higher-education research. But a review restricted to higher education does not establish that the wider research literature predominantly studies adults, and the passages do not identify a K–12 or EFL research gap. (LLM, conf=0.85)
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Cites
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Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Razia, B., Awwad, B., and Taqi, N. (2023). The relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and its aspects in higher education. Dev. Learn. Organ. Int. J. 37, 21-23. doi: 10.1108/dlo-04-2022-0074h · DOI
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Batista, J., Mesquita, A., & Carnaz, G. (2024) · Information · doi:10.3390/info15110676 · Cited by 256 · see citing works
Li, M., & Wilson, J. (2025) · Information · doi:10.3390/info16070519 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
- Authors
- Castillo-Martínez, I. M., Flores-Bueno, D., Gómez-Puente, S. M., & Vite-León, V. O.
- Affiliations
- Tecnológico de Monterrey (MX)
- Peruvian University of Applied Sciences (PE)
- Corresponding author
- Castillo-Martínez, Isolda Margarita
- Venue
- Frontiers in Education
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media SA
- Published
- 2024-08-27
- Volume
- 9
- ISSN
- 2504-284X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4401914437
- Cited by
- 96
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 56 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 5
- FWCI
- 5.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Frontiers in Education (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- TU/e Research Portal (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Artificial Intelligence in Education
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Artificial Intelligence Applications
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Health Informatics › Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education
- Keywords
- artificial intelligence in higher education, ChatGPT, AI in scientific writing, artificial intelligence in research, benefits and challenges of AI, university research practices
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