Dublin: Irish university students suspected of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to cheat on assignments may soon face mandatory in-person interviews. The Higher Education Authority (HEA) has released a comprehensive 20-page report recommending “oral verification” as a routine tool to ensure academic integrity in the age of generative AI.
The new guidelines urge third-level institutions to move beyond simple AI detection software, which is often unreliable. Instead, colleges are encouraged to redesign assessments to focus on authenticity, potentially marking a return to traditional written exams and face-to-face “viva-style” defenses of student work.
Key Highlights of the Recommendations:
- Oral Verification: If a student’s work is flagged for potential AI use, they must be able to demonstrate their understanding and process through a face-to-face interview.
- Assessment Redesign: Institutions are advised to create “AI-resilient” assignments that require personal reflection, local context, or supervised in-class components.
- Embracing AI: The report emphasizes that AI should not be banned but integrated. Students must learn to use it as a tool rather than a replacement for critical thinking.
- Human Oversight: The HEA stresses that while AI has immense potential for education, human judgment must remain at the center of the grading and verification process.
The HEA framework aims to create a national standard for Irish universities, ensuring that a degree from an Irish institution remains a credible reflection of a student’s own effort and knowledge.
