Turnitin is withdrawing the proposed plans for 2026/27: no student or staff data will be used to train AI products during this period, no student or staff data has been used to develop generative artificial intelligence models or large language models (LLMs), and it has no plans to train AI in this way.
Turnitin is withdrawing the proposed plans for 2026/27: no student or staff data will be used to train AI products during this period, no student or staff data has been used to develop generative artificial intelligence models or large language models (LLMs), and it has no plans to train AI in this way.
As your Education Officer, I have been considering information from across the sector, sharing updates on Instagram and engaging directly with Durham University and students. I have asked Durham University to consider alternative providers and withdrawing from Turnitin’s services should these proposed changes be introduced in the future.
For now, I believe the University is taking a measured approach, and we should do the same. Professor Tony Fawcett, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education, has also confirmed that protecting student and staff data is an absolute priority. Given these reassurances, I believe we should continue using Turnitin as normal while remaining engaged with any future developments.
I appreciate the University’s cooperation and students’ willingness to share their concerns. I will continue to listen to your views and raise them with the University. Please contact me at su.education@durham.ac.uk.