AI has made it 'close to impossible' to assess university coursework
What happened
The Office for Students (OfS), England’s higher‑education regulator, warns that AI use has made it “close to impossible” to assess university coursework, threatening degree credibility. It says many universities have already shifted to traditional in‑person exams, oral vivas and “process‑based” assessments that require students to detail how they produced work or critique AI‑generated output. The regulator cautions that failing to implement reliable, AI‑free assessment could breach registration conditions and lead to sanctions. The OfS and Advance HE surveyed over 300 students and staff at 127 institutions, finding widespread AI use that can produce essays in minutes with grades comparable to non‑AI work. Universities UK acknowledges ongoing changes toward more in‑person and controlled AI assessments.
Why it matters
If universities cannot reliably assess learning, the value of degrees could diminish, affecting graduates’ job prospects and employers’ trust. Students may also face stricter assessment formats that limit the convenience of AI tools.
Reality check
An automated, sceptical read of the sourceIncremental. The article reports regulatory pressure and existing shifts to traditional assessments rather than a breakthrough technology.
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