{"text":[[{"start":8.56,"text":"Universities are too vulnerable to AI cheating and need to adopt tech-proof assessment methods like paper exams and oral presentations, England’s higher education regulator has warned."}],[{"start":19.62,"text":"The Office for Students said that the technology posed a “generational risk” to the integrity and reputation of universities, threatening to issue fines and other disciplinary action if they cannot effectively prevent students from abusing AI."}],[{"start":34.32,"text":"While acknowledging the “huge opportunity” for AI to help improve teaching, the regulator says that universities need to do far more to prevent cheating from being normalised and undermining students’ ability to learn."}],[{"start":46.84,"text":"Student surveys suggest that more than 90 per cent of them are using AI to help with assignments, prompting some universities to redesign assessments, including a revival of medieval-era viva voce oral examinations."}],[{"start":60.12,"text":"In a report published on Wednesday, the OfS said approaches “vary widely” between institutions, acknowledging criticism that the regulator itself had been slow to set out clear rules since the emergence of ChatGPT four years ago."}],[{"start":73.94,"text":"It praised some universities for redesigning assessments but said too many still relied on unsupervised coursework that is highly vulnerable to the abuse of AI."}],[{"start":84.04,"text":"Students frequently reported that some of their peers “had completed assessments using AI, sometimes in just a few minutes, and received a similar grade to those who had completed the assessment themselves”, the OfS report said."}],[{"start":96.72,"text":"Many students “see AI as the most effective route to a high grade” and “feel they are at a disadvantage” if they do not use it the powerful technology themselves."}],[{"start":107.04,"text":"Academics reported that they regularly saw work written in the same style and using the same references, with some responses claiming that “coursework is now overwhelmingly written in part or exclusively with the help of AI”."}],[{"start":120.4,"text":"Josh Fleming, director of strategy at the OfS, said that AI “presents a generational risk to the system” and undermines the ability of universities to assess students fairly."}],[{"start":131.12,"text":"“We need to see far greater efforts to tackle these risks, including far greater use of AI-free assessment,” he added."}],[{"start":136.68,"text":"AI detection software was not reliable enough to be used in disciplinary action, Fleming said, adding: “It’s much better to design the assessment such that it’s not even an option to cheat.”"}],[{"start":148.52,"text":"The OfS has now issued new guidance which urges universities to make greater use of “secure assessments” such as in-person exams, presentations and vivas."}],[{"start":158.66,"text":"Under an overhauled quality regime, universities must demonstrate “that assessments are designed in such a way to be resilient against AI”."}],[{"start":167.18,"text":"The report did stress that, when used appropriately, AI could help give rapid personalised feedback and allow lecturers to develop better teaching materials."}],[{"start":177.04,"text":"Fleming urged universities to “get ahead of this and not wait for the regulator to come and find the issue”."}],[{"start":183.42,"text":"He praised the University of Bath for its “two-lane approach”, which includes exams where students cannot access AI and other assessments explicitly designed on the assumption that the technology will be used."}],[{"start":195.84,"text":"Universities UK said many institutions “have made substantial changes to how they assess students”."}],[{"start":201.68,"text":"“This includes more in-person exams, presentations, vivas, process-based assessment and assessments that integrate AI in a controlled way,” it added."}],[{"start":211.72,"text":"“Different subjects will require different approaches, and universities should have the flexibility to adopt assessment methods that best support learning outcomes.”"}],[{"start":224.61,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1794387303_7031.mp3"}