Exploring the Impact of AI Adoption on Student Productivity and Behavioral Intentions in Higher Education: A Cross-Institutional Study

Authors

  • Krishna Bista Morgan State University, USA
  • Prasanna Poudel Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal.
  • Mariem Chouchen University of Tunis el Manar, The Higher Institute of Medical Technologies of Tunis, Research Laboratory of Biophysics and Medical Technologies, Tunis 1006, Tunisia https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5937-163X
  • Uttam Gaulee Department of Advanced Studies, Leadership and Policy, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
  • Surendra Subedi
  • Kapil Bista

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/2wda3n83

Keywords:

ChatGPT, Generative AI, Higher Education, Student Productivity, Behavioral Intention, UTAUT, Academic Integrity, Cross-Institutional Study

Abstract

This cross-institutional study investigates the impact of generative AI—specifically ChatGPT—on student productivity and behavioral intentions in higher education, comparing responses from Texas College (USA) and Kathmandu Model College (Nepal). Grounded in the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework, this research explores how readiness, frequency of use, and perceptions of productivity influence students’ intentions to continue using AI. Data from 507 students were analyzed using descriptive statistics, reliability testing, and ordinal logistic regression. Results indicate that frequent AI users perceive higher academic productivity, while institutional affiliation had no significant effect. Readiness and perceived productivity emerged as strong predictors of continued AI use; however, some students expressed uncertainty due to concerns about ethical and academic integrity. The findings suggest that while AI tools like ChatGPT hold promise for enhancing academic efficiency and personalization in learning, a structured institutional framework and ethical guidance are essential to support the sustained and responsible integration of these tools into pedagogical practices.

References

Adiguzel, T., Kaya, M. H., & Cansu, F. K. (2023). Revolutionizing education with AI: Exploring the transformative potential of ChatGPT. Contemporary Educational Technology, 15(3), ep429. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/13152

Alam, M. A., Pratama, G., & Kumar, R. (2023). AI in education: Applications, challenges, and future trends. Computers & Education, 188, 104676. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2023.104676

Aoun, J. E. (2017). Robot-Proof: Higher Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. MIT Press.

Bin-Nashwan, S. A., Sadallah, M., & Bouteraa, M. (2023). Use of ChatGPT in academia: Academic integrity hangs in the balance. Technology in Society, 75, 102370.

Common Sense Media. (2023). Parents and students are optimistic about AI, but parents have a lot to learn to catch up to their kids—and want rules and ratings to help them. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/parents-and-students-are-optimistic-about-ai-but-parents-have-a-lot-to-learn-to-catch-up-to-their-kids-and-want-rules-and-ratings-to-help-them

Creswell, J.W., & Creswell, J.D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage, Los Angeles.

Dabingaya, M. (2022). Analyzing the Effectiveness of AI-Powered Adaptive Learning Platforms in Mathematics Education. Interdisciplinary Journal Papier Human Review, 3(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.47667/ijphr.v3i1.226

Dwivedi, Y. K., Hughes, L., Baabdullah, A. M., & Ribeiro-Navarrete, S. (2023). Metaverse, artificial intelligence, and extended reality in education. International Journal of Information Management, 68, 102676. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2022.102676

Gamlem, S. M., McGrane, J., Brandmo, C., Moltudal, S., Sun, S. Z., & Hopfenbeck, T. N. (2025). Exploring pre-service teachers’ attitudes and experiences with generative AI: A mixed methods study in Norwegian teacher education. Educational Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/01443410.2025.2528663

Hamamra, B., Khlaif, Z. N., Mayaleh, A., & Abu Baker, A. (2025). A phenomenological examination of educators’ experiences with AI integration in Palestinian higher education. Cogent Education, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2526435

Holmes, W., Bialik, M., & Fadel, C. (2021). Artificial Intelligence in Education: Promises and Implications for Teaching and Learning. Routledge.

Hwang, G. J., Xie, H., Wah, B. W., & Gašević, D. (2020). Trends and research issues of AI in education: A review of journal publications from 2000 to 2019. Interactive Learning Environments, 29(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2020.1815813

Kaplan-Rakowski, R., Grotewold, K., Hartwick, P., & Papin, K. (2023). Generative AI and teachers’ perspectives on its implementation in education. Journal of Interactive Learning Research, 34(2), 313-338.

Kohnke, L., Moorhouse, B. L., & Zou, D. (2023). Exploring generative artificial intelligence preparedness among university language instructors: A case study. Language Teaching Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/13621688231209143

Konca, A. S., Simsar, A., Alhajji, R., & Al Mansoori, A. (2025). Cross-cultural perspectives on AI adoption in teacher education: A comparative study of pre-service teachers in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Interactive Learning Environments. https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2025.2488143

Luckin, R. (2018). Machine Learning and Human Intelligence: The Future of Education for the 21st Century. UCL Press.

Luo, Q. Z., & Hsiao-Chin, L. Y. (2023). The Influence of AI-Powered Adaptive Learning Platforms on Student Performance in Chinese Classrooms. Journal of Education, 6(3), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t4181

Mochizuki, Y., Bruillard, E., & Bryan, A. (2025). The ethics of AI or techno-solutionism? UNESCO’s policy guidance on AI in education. British Journal of Sociology of Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/01425692.2025.2502808

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT: Optimizing language models for dialogue. https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt

OpenAI. (2024). OpenAI unveils ChatGPT Edu to bring AI responsibly to university campuses. https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt-edu

Ravšelj, D., Keržič, D., Tomaževič, N., Umek, L., & Brezovar, N. (2025). Higher education students' perceptions of ChatGPT: A global study of early reactions. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0255678

Ruiz-Rojas, A., De la Peña-Esteban, F., de la Fuente-Arroyo, M., & Criado, A. M. (2023). Empowering education with generative AI: Instructional design matrices and the 4PADAFE framework. Computers & Education: Artificial Intelligence, 4, 100118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2023.100118

Sari, H. E., Tumanggor, B., & Efron, D. (2024). Improving educational outcomes through adaptive learning systems using ai. International Transactions on Artificial Intelligence, 3(1), 21-31.

Selwyn, N. (2019). Should Robots Replace Teachers? AI and the Future of Education. Polity Press.

Sharkey, J. (2025, March 7). AI cheating surges at universities: Scottish institutions have been warned they must keep pace with the technology after it was revealed only two use software to detect its misuse. The Times. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ai-cheating-surges-at-universities-5vktqdsvj

Sharples, M. (2025). A systems approach to AI and education in a post-digital world. Theory Into Practice. https://doi.org/10.1080/00405841.2025.2528549

Tang, G. (2023). Academic journals cannot simply require authors to declare that they used ChatGPT. Irish Journal of Medical Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-023-03374-x

Tang, X., Yuan, Z., & Qu, S. (2025). Factors Influencing University Students' Behavioural Intention to Use Generative Artificial Intelligence for Educational Purposes Based on a Revised UTAUT2 Model. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 41(1), e13105.

Teo, T. (2019). Students and teachers’ intention to use technology: Assessing their role using the UTAUT framework. Educational Technology & Society, 22(4), 74–86.

The Times. (2025). AI cheating surges at universities. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ai-cheating-surges-at-universities-5vktqdsvj

UNESCO. (2023). Guidance for generative AI in education and research. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000386693

Valle, N. N., Kilat, R. V., Lim, J., General, E., Cruz, J. D., Colina, S. J., ... & Valle, L. (2024). Modeling learners' behavioral intention toward using artificial intelligence in education. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 10, 101167.

Venkatesh, V., Morris, M. G., Davis, G. B., & Davis, F. D. (2003). User acceptance of information technology: Toward a unified view. MIS Quarterly, 27(3), 425–478. https://doi.org/10.2307/30036540

Williamson, B., & Eynon, R. (2020). AI in education: A critical review. Learning, Media and Technology, 45(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439884.2020.1686010

Zapata, G. C., Cope, B., Kalantzis, M., Tzirides, A. O., Saini, A. K., & Searsmith, D. (2025). AI and peer reviews in higher education: Students’ multimodal views on benefits, differences and limitations. Technology, Pedagogy and Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/1475939X.2025.2480807

Zawacki-Richter, O., Marín, V. I., Bond, M., & Gouverneur, F. (2019). Systematic review of research on artificial intelligence applications in higher education. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 16, 39. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-019-0171-0

Published

2025-11-28

Issue

Section

STEM Education (regular)

How to Cite

Bista, K., Poudel , P., Chouchen, M. ., Gaulee, U. ., Subedi, S., & Bista, K. (2025). Exploring the Impact of AI Adoption on Student Productivity and Behavioral Intentions in Higher Education: A Cross-Institutional Study. American Journal of STEM Education. https://doi.org/10.32674/2wda3n83