AI-powered Tools for Doctoral Supervision in Higher Education: A Systematic Review
Chee Ling Thong, Z.A. Atallah, Shayla Islam, WeiLee Lim, Aswani Kumar Cherukuri
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools are used to aid the learning and teaching process in higher education. AI technology aims to assist doctoral co-supervision through the model of humanised collaboration. It is discovered that there is a lack of literature review integrating generative AI (GenAI) with doctoral co-supervision processes. This paper investigates how GenAI facilitates the doctoral co-supervision process, including types of AI used, AI in education (AIED) components integration and the extent to which AI applications are useful in doctoral co-supervision. Four research questions posed have guided the study. The findings show AI to be supportive of personalised instruction and assessment and to be used as a collaborative tool. Furthermore, machine learning algorithms with a predictive nature were of immense aid in personalised advice. Nevertheless, the experience of the fusion of AI and mobile technologies in academic mentoring is relatively scarce in empirical studies. It was found that extended case studies and consumer experience were lacking in this area. Even though the potential benefits were clarified, a comprehensive assessment of the dynamic effects called for by more robust empirical investigations is required, considering further constraints. This paper summarises that future investigations and research are still needed.