The Office for Students (OfS) has warned that the rapid rise of artificial intelligence is making it “close to impossible” to assess student work reliably. In a report released this week, the regulator urged universities across England to revert to conventional exams and in‑person presentations to safeguard the credibility of degrees.
According to the OfS, the proliferation of AI‑generated essays, dissertations and “open book” exams has created a climate where students can boast of using the technology without detection. The regulator said that institutions failing to develop “valid and reliable measures of students’ knowledge and skills” risk breaching their registration conditions, potentially leading to sanctions.
Josh Fleming, director of strategy and delivery at the OfS, described the situation as a “generational risk to the system as it stands.” He called for a “far greater use of AI‑free assessment” and emphasized the need for universities to balance the benefits of AI with the protection of academic standards.
Many universities have already begun to adapt. The OfS report notes that institutions are redesigning assessment methods to curb AI misuse. Examples include increased reliance on in‑person written exams and oral examinations, known as vivas, as well as “process‑based” assessments where students must explain how they researched and produced their work. Some courses now require students to critique or edit AI‑generated content, turning the technology into a learning tool rather than a shortcut.
The Department for Education echoed the OfS’s concerns, stating that universities must take the issue seriously and that the regulator will enforce existing standards while working to strengthen the regulatory framework around AI use.
The report, produced in partnership with Advance HE, surveyed more than 300 students and staff across 127 universities and colleges. One academic highlighted the danger to academic integrity, noting that “coursework is now overwhelmingly written in part, or exclusively, with the help of AI.” Another staff member observed that the reliance on AI has made it difficult to gauge genuine student learning.
While the OfS acknowledges the opportunities AI presents for teaching and assessment, it stresses that the sector must act swiftly to mitigate the risks. The regulator plans to continue collaborating with institutions to help them harness AI’s benefits while preserving the integrity of higher education.
Source: The Guardian World
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Editorial note: This is an original news report prepared from the attributed source material with AI assistance. It is not a reproduction or translation of the original article.
