Abstract

With AI use rising in academic environments, AI governance has become a critical discussion. This paper aims to understand the extent to which the top 30 ranked universities embed digital responsibility principles within their AI governance frameworks. To ensure consistent and transparent analysis, only universities with publicly accessible AI governance documents were included. This criterion narrowed the sample from 30 to 21 institutions. Guided by Trier's (2022) proposed framework of eight principles of digital responsibility: Sustainability, Participation, Functionality, Data Privacy, Transparency, Fairness, Norms/Values, and Accountability, we conducted a thematic analysis of the narrowed set of AI policy documents from top 21 ranked universities to examine the presence and depth of these principles within universities’ AI governance frameworks. The preliminary findings reveal varying degrees of commitment to digital responsibility, with some principles consistently emphasised, such as Data Privacy and Accountability, while others such as Functionality and Participation are frequently overlooked. These inconsistencies provide insights into how leading HEIs approach responsible AI governance and highlight areas for strengthening responsible AI governance. Improved AI governance is essential to ensuring a safe and ethical environment for both students and educators, mitigating the risks of AI usage, maximising the benefits of AI, and providing transparency to institutional expectations regarding usage of AI through the HEI ecosystem. This study contributes to growing discourse on responsible AI and AI governance, and provides insights into best practices and recommendations for the integration of AI into education

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