An academic at the Australian National University (ANU) has accused it of a 'hysterical' response to students using AI to cheat. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.
Universities are trying to counter the widespread use of AI amid concerns students are using the technology to cheat or not adequately learning. The 2025 Australian Digital Inclusion Index found 78.9% of secondary and tertiary students were using generative AI.
ANU has released a consultation paper to academic and teaching staff with three options: classifying assessments as 'secure' (completely free from the risk of AI cheating) or 'insecure'; another option would require students to declare in which stages of an assessment AI was used.
One ANU academic told Guardian Australia they supported the university's moves, but said the process across the sector had so far been 'panicked'. 'Everyone is adjusting in a panicked way, which is aggravated by a lack of resources to support teaching. It makes the shift to secure assessment really complicated,' they said.
Another ANU academic was critical of the university, saying it was not adequately consulting on the changes, warning they could unwind some of the progress in making assessments more inclusive for students with a disability or caring responsibilities. 'This is not an earnest consultation, this is a reactionary response, perhaps one would argue a hysterical response. We are at a point of panic now. That panic has resulted in proposals that could see inclusion go backwards,' they said.
ANU law professor Will Bateman, who leads research projects on the regulation of AI, said combating the infiltration of AI use in universities across Australia was critical to stop intellectual capability being shifted overseas. 'If we don't address the erosion of the norms and rigour in our education created by AI, we are just shipping our national intellectual capability to companies in California and China,' he said.
The University of Queensland (UQ) began implementing new policies to 'secure' its assessments earlier this year, but drew criticism for scheduling in-person oral assessments during night hours and over the weekend. Deputy vice-chancellor of education Kris Ryan told Guardian Australia his university had begun considering responses to AI use in 2023, but said it takes time for the work to be implemented. 'There has been a shift by some academics across the university to put on more traditional exams as part of their secure assessment strategy. We owe it to the community at large that we can say, hand on heart, that our graduates have the capabilities that we value,' he said.
The University of Melbourne is also moving towards a process of 'secure' assessments, with deputy vice-chancellor of education Prof Gregor Kennedy saying his institution was looking at more oral assessments as part of its AI response. 'The University is transforming its assessment approach to embed secure assessment types that ensure integrity and verify students' work amidst the rise of AI tools,' Kennedy said.
Barney Glover, the new head of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission, said he was seeing more universities reintroduce oral exams to better test students, but warned universities would 'need to be really responsible' in how they use or stop AI being used. Despite the 'challenges' posed by AI, Australia's 'world-class tertiary education system will adapt', he said.