Innovative education and student support

Colleagues in LCCOS have been at the forefront of delivering innovative education and student support at UCL.

Case studies

• Supporting the use of AI at UCL
• UCL East

Supporting use of AI at UCL 

In August 2023 the library published guidance on Acknowledging the use of AI and Referencing AI, a key component in UCL’s Generative AI Hub. 
 
The rise of generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, in the academic session 2022-23 highlighted an urgent need for guidance and best practice around their use. 

Through representation on the academic skills workstream as part of UCL’s AI in Education expert group, the library is involved in identifying priorities and developing support and training in the use of these tools. 

This has included consulting with students through focus groups, from which a need for clear guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI and referencing AI was identified. 

Drawing evidence from existing practices at other institutions, standardised referencing styles and publishers, Angela Young, Head of Library Skills, compiled the library guidance on Acknowledging the use of AI and Referencing AI, which was approved as UCL’s general approach through the AI in Education group.

In the first six weeks after the guidance went live at beginning of September 2023, it attracted over 3,300 views.

Further initiatives within LCCOS relating to generative AI include:

• An LCCOS AI Group has been formed to identify opportunities and concerns relating to Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the context of our services and support and help inform relevant LCCOS guidance on AI.
• Guidance on copyright as it relates to AI-generated works is in progress. This guidance will draw from relevant legal cases in development and will align to other related UCL policies and guidelines. 
• The use of generative AI tools where relevant has been incorporated within the context of current library skills teaching sessions offered as part of our scheduled bookable programme of sessions.
• A new online tutorial ‘Good academic practice in the use of sources’ is currently in development, and will address the use of generative AI tools as a source of information for academic work.

UCL East

LCCOS opened new library space in UCL East to support the university’s expansion.

The opening of UCL’s new campus on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park marked the University’s largest development in its nearly 200-year history. Just as there has been a library at UCL’s Bloomsbury site since the earliest days, so there is now one at UCL East.

The new library in Marshgate, opened in September 2023, provides a significant and much-needed study area for UCL East students and other visitors, a dedicated team of staff and a range of services to enhance the university experience, including:

• 161 quiet library study spaces plus 250 adjacent social commons spaces
• 144 laptops for loan
• Convenient, smart storage lockers
• Bookable study pods and a group study room

The library successfully piloted an extension to our Click and Collect Service, whereby students could request print materials from any site to be delivered to them at UCL East. 

Igho Wekpe, Manager of UCL East Library:

“Our team, as well as the entire building, is buzzing with excitement now that teaching has started, the place is alive with activity. The cafes, refectory, labs, and teaching rooms are all open, and the meticulously designed spaces are being put to good use by our students and staff.