The LSVb’s Digitisation Guide 2025 provides background information on various digitisation topics from the student’s perspective: (1) Generative AI, (2) Affordability, (3) Big Tech, (4) Policy based on personal data, (5) Security breaches
and (6) The digital divide. The LSVb also makes recommendations on these topics to ensure that all students can benefit from digitisation.
Read the entire digitisation guide here
Generative AI
Generative AI offers support to a number of students during their studies to increase productivity and quality. However, the LSVb recognises that there are also disadvantages to generative AI.
The LSVb is concerned about the use of AI detection software against individual students, the computing power required for this type of AI, and the high level of copyright infringement associated with training these AI models. Institutions must remain critical of the use of generative AI and teach students to be critical of its use and the results it produces.
Affordability
More and more parts of education are being digitised, requiring increasingly better (and more expensive) computers and software with temporary subscriptions. At the same time, educational institutions are increasingly cutting back on computer facilities for students. Media libraries are being scaled back, and loan equipment often does not include the necessary software. As a result, the costs are largely borne by the students, even though this group is finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet and is not eligible for special assistance.
Big Tech
Higher education is becoming increasingly dependent on large technology companies. Educational institutions mainly opt for large cloud services that offer multiple software programmes simultaneously, such as Office365 and Google Workspace. And teachers require students to work with expensive software subscriptions from, for example, Adobe (Photoshop) or IBM (SPSS). The LSVb recommends taking a more critical look at partnerships with large technology companies and asks institutions to consider open-source alternatives more often.
Policies based on personal data
Educational institutions are increasingly using personal data from students and staff to inform their policies. As a result, more and more students are feeling under pressure to perform, which can lead to stress-related complaints. In recent years, AI has also been used more and more often to process personal data, whether anonymised or not. In some cases, this processing leads to unintended discrimination.
Security breaches
Educational institutions are increasingly involved in digital attacks. These include shutting down networks through DDoS attacks, holding files and computers hostage with ransomware, and data breaches. According to the LSVb, it is important to invest in the security of the digital infrastructure of educational institutions, and education must be organised in such a way that it can continue during a security breach.
The digital divide In addition to financial inequality leading to a digital divide, where one student can afford an expensive new laptop and another can only afford a cheap second-hand one, there is also a gap in knowledge and participation. Students must be given the opportunity to learn how to use digital resources and also be given the opportunity to gain positive personal experiences in using technology without being assessed.