The use of artificial intelligence in undergraduate education in higher education: an evaluation from a student perspective

This research aims to examine the impact of the digital transformation process on higher education within the context of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Specifically, it evaluates the awareness levels, usage habits, and attitudes of undergraduate students studying in the Faculties of Engineering and Business at Sakarya University regarding AI technologies and their effects on educational processes. The study was conducted within the framework of the descriptive survey model, and data were collected from 407 students through a structured questionnaire. In the analysis of the data, descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation were used. Since the data did not follow a normal distribution, non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis H) were applied to examine differences between independent groups. Qualitative data obtained from open-ended questions were analyzed using the descriptive content analysis method.The findings revealed that the majority of students actively use AI tools and have generally positive attitudes toward them. Students indicated that AI technologies facilitate access to information and support learning processes. However, concerns were also expressed regarding pedagogical competence, ethical issues, misinformation risk, and dependency. No significant differences were found between students' attitudes toward AI and their demographic characteristics (gender, age, academic year, faculty, and internet usage duration). This suggests that demographic variables alone are insufficient to explain attitudes toward AI, and that individual, pedagogical, and cultural factors must also be considered when evaluating this issue.Responses to the open-ended question indicated that students found AI technologies useful in terms of time saving, ease of access, and efficiency, yet emphasized the need for clearer ethical frameworks and increased institutional guidance. This study, employing a student-centered and embedded mixed methods (embedded design) approach, provides valuable insights into the role of AI in education and offers various recommendations for the effective, conscious, and ethical integration of AI technologies into higher education. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Digital Transformation, Higher Education, Student Attitudes, Educational Technologies