Artificial intelligence (AI) is wrecking havoc on university assessments and exams. Thanks to generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, students can now generate essays and assessment answers in seconds. As we have noted in a study earlier this year, this has left universities scrambling to redesign tasks, update policies, and adopt new cheating detection systems. But the technology keeps […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
Our new study found AI is wreaking havoc on uni assessments. Here’s how we should respond
Fewer international students are coming to the US, costing universities and communities that benefit from these visitors
American college campuses from Tucson to Tallahassee are buzzing with the familiar routine of students getting settled in classes and dorms. One new trend, though, is emerging. An estimated 30% to 40% fewer international students are expected on American college campuses in the fall of 2025, compared with trends in the 2024-2025 academic year, according to according […] … learn more→
What is criticality?
This is a post for all the people just starting their doctoral programmes. And for those supporting them. Criticality in scholarship is the practice of approaching all knowledge claims, including your own, sceptically. It’s about developing “productive scepticism”. Productive scepticism isn’t cynicism that dismisses everything, but thoughtful inquiry that seeks to understand how knowledge is […] … learn more→
How universities can become neuro-inclusive — and what can help autistic students thrive
With the prevalence of autism increasing in recent years, more autistic people are attending college and university. (There are different ways to identify in the autistic community, with some people prefering to call themselves “autistic” rather than “a person with autism;” we’re taking the former approach). Recent data suggest one in 50 Canadian children and adolescents are diagnosed with autism. Autistic […] … learn more→
Some unis are moving away from in-person lectures. Here’s why that’s not such a bad thing
Students have been protesting to keep in-person lectures at the newly amalgamated Adelaide University next year. University representatives say Adelaide University will not remove face-to-face lectures but “rework” the traditional format in line with research on how students learn. This could include quizzes, group discussions or self-paced-learning modules. Whether lectures are on-campus or online will vary by course and […] … learn more→
Adding more green space to a campus is a simple, cheap and healthy way to help millions of stressed and depressed college students
Stress on college students can be palpable, and it hits them from every direction: academic challenges, social pressures and financial burdens, all intermingled with their first taste of independence. It’s part of the reason why anxiety and depression are common among the 19 million students now enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities, and why incidents of suicide and […] … learn more→
Australian uni enrolments have declined. But is Job-ready Graduates to blame?
In 2025, students in arts, business and law courses pay nearly A$17,000 for a year of university study. This means it costs more than $50,000 for a three-year degree. University leaders have been blaming these high fees for lower enrolments. On Wednesday, Universities Australia chair and Griffith University Vice-Chancellor Carolyn Evans told the National Press Club, recent fee increases […] … learn more→
Supporting religious diversity on campus is a surprising consensus among faculty across the red-blue divide
Universities, often perceived as bastions of progressive thought, are increasingly reflecting the broader political polarization gripping the nation. Faculty members represent a university’s core identity and mission. They express the values of the institution in numerous ways, including teaching, mentoring, advising and researching. In my research into the impact of college on student development and […] … learn more→
Latin American literature contains warnings for American universities that yield to Trump
As university leaders work to make deals with the Trump administration, many college presidents are at an ethical crossroads. On the one hand, they must do all they can to restore funding for vital research. On the other, they risk ceding to the demands of a president with views that don’t align with their missions. As […] … learn more→
Universities have lost their way, but cost-cutting and consultants are not the answer
Last week in Sydney, we saw a melodrama acted out that could stand in for the state of Australian universities more generally. Inside Sydney’s swish Fullerton Hotel, a glittering cast of vice-chancellors, politicians, public servants, journalists, and consultants deliberated at a higher education summit, sponsored by the Australian Financial Review and consultancy Nous Group. Teaching-only casual […] … learn more→
