Where AI meets academia – a case study of ChatGPT use in Vietnam

Conducted by RMIT Senior Lecturer Dr Greeni Maheshwari as one of the first empirical enquiries into ChatGPT in an Asian context, the study analysed data gathered from 108 participants, comprising both undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled in public and private universities in Vietnam.

The findings indicated that perceived ease of use, usefulness, personalisation, and interactivity significantly impact students’ attitudes and behaviours towards ChatGPT. Perceived trust and intelligence had no effect on students’ adoption intentions.

The perceived ease of use has a positive influence on the adoption intentions, suggesting that students are more inclined to adopt and use ChatGPT when they see it as user-friendly and convenient.

However, the perceived usefulness of ChatGPT did not have a direct impact on students' adoption intentions. Instead, it had an indirect influence through personalisation (the extent to which ChatGPT can be personalised to students’ needs) and interactivity (the interactive features the tool offers). 

The study findings suggested there is no effect of perceived intelligence on ChatGPT adoption, potentially due to ChatGPT’s limitations, such as its inability to provide the latest information.

Building trust in AI systems takes time and requires consistent positive experiences. The constraints associated with ChatGPT, such as outdated information, have influenced students’ perceptions of its use and trust, and their intentions to adopt it.

Dr Maheshwari said, “The insights gained from the study have practical implications for educational institutions to arrive at a decision regarding the use of ChatGPT and other generative AI tools in educational settings.

“By recognising the importance of factors like ease of use, usefulness, interactivity, personalisation, and adoption intentions, educational institutions can implement effective strategies to enhance student engagement with proper utilisation of the AI tools.”.

The RMIT academic said that the world is witnessing a potential revolutionisation of education through AI, with ChatGPT at the forefront. It introduces a paradigm shift in how people perceive and approach learning, promising more personalised, interactive, and efficient educational experiences.

She believes that given the ethical concerns surrounding AI in education, institutions can play a pivotal role in ensuring responsible AI usage. She suggested institutions establish clear guidelines and codes of conduct for both students and educators, and give careful thought to integrating generative AI into the assessment process.

“As the use of these AI tools becomes increasingly inevitable, it is essential to design assessments in a manner that encourages responsible use of AI and preserves students’ critical thinking skills and creativity in assessment writing.

“Additionally, ongoing training and awareness programs can educate students and educators about the ethical implications of AI in education, fostering a culture of responsible technology usage. By navigating these ethical considerations thoughtfully, educational institutions can harness the benefits of AI while upholding ethical standards,” said Dr Maheshwari.

The paper “Factors influencing students' intention to adopt and use ChatGPT in higher education: A study in the Vietnamese context” is published in the Q1-ranked journal Education and Information Technologies.

Story: Ngoc Hoang