AI poses 'generational risk' to university degree assessments, regulator warns

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 11 Nov, 07:10 · Archive

England's universities regulator says AI use in coursework poses a 'generational risk' and called for greater use of traditional exams.

England's higher education regulator has warned that artificial intelligence is undermining the credibility of university degrees. The Office for Students (OfS) said AI now presents a 'generational risk' to the system because it enables widespread cheating on coursework, with students able to complete unsupervised assessments in minutes whilst achieving high grades.

Research conducted by the OfS and Advance HE, a teaching excellence charity, examined the views of 244 higher education staff and 91 students from at least 127 universities. The investigation found that 'a significant proportion' of assessments are unsupervised and in non-controlled formats where students can access AI tools. Many of these can be completed to a high standard using AI with what the regulators described as 'limited engagement from students'. Researchers concluded it was 'frequently possible' for students to use AI in ways that 'cannot be reliably detected'.

Students themselves reported that their peers boasted of using AI undetected by staff. One lecturer told the OfS: 'I think we're realising that a number of our assessments may be unfit for purpose, and that pervasive use of AI may render our assessment of students close to impossible in some areas.' Another said: 'Coursework is now overwhelmingly written in part, or exclusively, with the help of AI.'

The OfS called for universities to increase their use of 'AI-free assessment', particularly closed-book exams and practical tests, which the regulator identified as the most effective forms of assessment. The regulator warned that universities failing to design valid and reliable measures to combat AI use could breach their registration conditions and face sanctions, which could include fines, caps on student numbers, or bans on charging increased tuition fees.

Many institutions have already redesigned assessments, according to the BBC, introducing greater use of in-person written exams, oral examinations known as vivas, and process-based assessments where students detail their research and production methods. Some universities have also introduced tasks involving critiquing or editing AI-generated output.

How it is being reported

• AI has made it ‘close to impossible’ to assess university coursework, regulator saysOffice for Students says institutions in England should return to traditional exams and in-person presentations Universities should go back to traditional exams and in-person presentations to grade students after lecturers complained that AI has made it “close to impossible” to assess coursework, according to an investigation by England’s higher education regulator. The Office for Students (OfS) said the credibility of degrees from England’s universities was under threat from the prolific use of AI in essays, dissertations and “open book” exams, with students reporting that their peers…Guardian Technology · 11 Nov, 07:00
• Students passing university assessments in minutes using AI, regulator warnsThe Office for Students says students can frequently use AI "in ways that cannot be reliably detected".BBC News · 11 Nov, 00:21
• AI is making degree assessments 'unfit for purpose' with students completing them 'in minutes' for top grades, lecturers say - as watchdog calls for more traditional examsA report from the Office for Students (OfS) said AI now presents a 'generational risk' to universities because it enables so much cheating on coursework.Daily Mail · 11 Nov, 00:02

In this story: Office for Students · Advance HE · Universities UK · Swansea University · Josh Fleming · England

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