Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming higher education—and perhaps no area is under more scrutiny than assessment. With tools like ChatGPT and other generative AI systems now widely accessible, traditional methods of evaluating student learning are being challenged. The question is not if assessment must change, but how.

The AI Disruption

AI tools can now generate essays, solve equations, summarise texts, and even write code. While this raises concerns about academic integrity, it also exposes a deeper issue: many existing assessments focus on recall and reproduction—tasks AI can now do effortlessly.

This disruption offers an opportunity to rethink the purpose and design of assessment.

Towards Authentic and Inclusive Assessment

To remain meaningful in the AI era, assessments must:

• Focus on critical thinking, not just correct answers.
• Value the learning process, not just the final product.
• Encourage personal voice, reflection, and lived experience.
• Use multimodal formats—presentations, podcasts, portfolios, and peer reviews.

Authentic assessment connects tasks to real-world contexts and complex challenges, making it harder to outsource work and more meaningful for learners.

Embracing AI as a Learning Tool

Rather than banning AI outright, many educators are exploring how to integrate AI ethically into the learning process. For example:

• Students can use AI to brainstorm or generate drafts, then reflect on and improve the output.
• Assignments can ask students to critique AI-generated content or explore its limitations.
• Assessment rubrics can evaluate both content and the learner’s process of using AI.

The goal is to teach students how to use AI responsibly and critically—a valuable skill in itself.

Institutional Responses

Institutions must support this shift by:

• Updating academic integrity policies to include AI use.
• Providing staff development on AI-aware pedagogy.
• Encouraging experimentation and innovation in assessment design.
  

Final Thoughts

AI challenges traditional notions of authorship and originality—but it also pushes us to prioritise what truly matters in education: deep learning, ethical reasoning, and adaptive skills.

Assessment in the age of AI must be human-centred, flexible, and forward-looking. If done well, it will not weaken education—it will strengthen it.