Times Higher Education article explores AI and the future of university assessment

With 88% of UK students now using AI tools in assessments, universities face an urgent challenge: how to uphold academic integrity while ensuring students remain actively engaged in learning. Traditional detection methods are unreliable, and relying solely on in-person exams risks excluding more inclusive and flexible assessment formats. 

Professor Duncan Brumby has co-authored a new article in Times Higher Education with Professor Anna Cox, Dr Advait Sarkar and Dr Sandy Gould, exploring how sampled viva voce assessments could offer a scalable, practical way forward. 

Key themes  

• The challenge of AI in assessment: Generative AI allows students to produce written work with minimal engagement, raising concerns about the reliability of coursework-based assessments. 

• Why sampled vivas? Instead of focusing on AI detection, oral assessments test comprehension. A small, randomly selected percentage of students would complete a viva, ensuring they can explain their work. 
• Scalability and feasibility: While full oral exams for all students would be resource-intensive, sampled vivas could be integrated into existing moderation processes without overwhelming staff. 

The article highlights how universities must go beyond reacting to AI and proactively define how it should be used in education - ensuring assessments measure genuine understanding, not just text production. 

Read the full article: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/sampled-vivas-are-pivotal-combating-ai-cheating