Transforming Research Supervision: Ethical and Literacy Imperatives in the Era of Generative AI

Abstract

Higher education has undergone a rapid transformation in recent years, driven by the dual pressures of mitigating the long-term effects of COVID-19 and integrating generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technologies. The pandemic exposed and exacerbated pre-existing inequalities and power imbalances within the sector, necessitating policy adaptations to address issues such as digital inequality, limited social interaction, barriers faced by student researchers in conducting face-to-face data collection, and the protection of mental health. Concurrently, GenAI has emerged as a disruptive technology that is reshaping pedagogical practices, research processes, and supervisory relationships. Although GenAI is widely promoted as a tool that can enhance teaching, research, administration, and student support, it raises critical concerns related to academic integrity, ethics, systemic bias, knowledge ownership, and uneven regulatory standards. Supervisors similarly hold divergent views regarding its usefulness and risks, a tension also reflected in inconsistent journal policies on GenAI use. Guided by the GenAI–Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge framework (GenAI-TPACK), this study examined the ethical and literacy imperatives necessary for transforming research supervision in the era of GenAI. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify emerging GenAI literacy indicators that facilitate ethical, transparent, responsible, and informed engagement with GenAI during the research process. The review revealed significant gaps in supervisor preparedness, uneven AI literacy among research candidates, and a lack of coherent institutional guidance. The study contributes practical insights for higher education institutions seeking to balance the opportunities and challenges posed by GenAI and offers direction for developing humanising, context-sensitive guidelines for responsible integration in research supervision.