Transparent disclosure of AI tools used in the development of this digital artefact
In accordance with academic integrity standards and institutional guidelines on the responsible use of generative AI tools, this statement provides full transparency regarding AI assistance in the development of this educational innovation digital artefact.
The following generative AI tools were consulted during the research and development process:
OpenAI's large language model, used for brainstorming, content structuring, and drafting assistance
AI assistant used for research synthesis, critical analysis, and citation formatting verification
AI-powered search engine for locating academic sources and current statistics
AI writing assistant for grammar checking, style improvement, and readability enhancement
AI tools were used to explore different angles for presenting the educational challenges, generate ideas for the Digital Maturity Model levels, and suggest visualization concepts for diagrams and animations.
Human Oversight: All ideas were critically evaluated, refined, and adapted to align with academic research and institutional context.
AI was employed to locate relevant academic literature, identify key statistics about higher education challenges, and summarize complex technical concepts for accessibility.
Human Oversight: All statistics and references were independently verified through original sources. No AI-generated "facts" were used without validation.
Initial drafts of certain sections were generated with AI assistance to establish structure and flow. AI helped rephrase complex technical explanations for clarity and accessibility to non-specialist audiences.
Human Oversight: Every section was substantially edited, rewritten, and enhanced with original analysis and critical thinking. No AI-generated text appears unmodified.
AI tools assisted in formatting references according to APA 7th edition guidelines and checking citation consistency throughout the document.
Human Oversight: All citations were manually reviewed for accuracy and compliance with APA standards.
To maintain academic integrity and ensure original intellectual contribution, the following were completed entirely by the author without AI assistance:
All critical evaluations of technologies, risks, and benefits represent original thinking
The 5-level framework structure is original intellectual work
Phased approach and stakeholder mapping reflect personal research synthesis
All ethical analysis and risk assessments are original contributions
The use of generative AI tools aligns with the core argument of this project: that AI-powered technologies can enhance educational outcomes when applied thoughtfully and ethically. By incorporating AI into the research and development process itself, this work:
I declare that this work represents my own original thinking, research, and analysis. While generative AI tools provided assistance as documented above, all intellectual content, critical evaluation, strategic recommendations, and academic conclusions are my own. The use of AI has been conducted in accordance with institutional policies on academic integrity and responsible AI use in education.
Andrei Garaba
Digital Innovation in Higher Education
December 2025
This statement reflects best practices in AI transparency as recommended by educational institutions adapting to generative AI technologies. By providing full disclosure of AI use, this work contributes to evolving academic standards while demonstrating the responsible integration of AI tools in scholarly work.