Swedish Ministry of Education Proposes Strict AI Use and Integrity Rules for Student Science Competitions

The Swedish Ministry of Education has unveiled a draft circular introducing stringent regulations on the use of artificial intelligence in national science and technology research competitions for middle and high school students. The proposal aims to reinforce scientific integrity by allowing AI usage only when fully declared by students and strictly prohibiting AI-generated falsification or substitution of genuine student work.

Students participating in these competitions must maintain continuous research journals documenting their activities, methods, and contributions, reviewed and approved by supervising teachers. Any violations, such as fabricating data or performing core research without proper acknowledgment, could lead to sanctions including invalidation of exam results and suspension from competitions for 1 to 2 years.

Moreover, supervising teachers are held accountable and barred from performing key research tasks on behalf of students. Those implicated in integrity breaches may face suspension from mentoring duties and legal consequences. Educational institutions that fail to properly oversee research projects risk criticism and responsibility, including that of their heads. Transparency is encouraged by public disclosure of project details, reports, and posters, along with a mechanism for feedback on submission authenticity verified within seven working days.

If a prize-winning project is later found guilty of violations, awards will be revoked with disciplinary actions publicly announced. Upon approval, the new circular will supersede the existing directives governing these competitions, enhancing controls over AI use and integrity standards