Universities: Artificial Intelligence

(asked on 3rd September 2026) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support universities in developing consistent approaches to the use of artificial intelligence in teaching and assessment.


Answered by
Baroness Smith of Malvern Portrait
Baroness Smith of Malvern
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
This question was answered on 17th September 2026

The department is committed to ensuring that artificial intelligence (AI) is not used to undermine high academic standards in higher education (HE). That is why, as set out in the Post-16 education and skills white paper, the department is supporting the Office for Students to assess the impact of AI. Including how students are using it in assessments, to ensure the integrity of higher education assessments and qualifications is not compromised.

Universities are independent and autonomous bodies responsible for decisions such as admissions, diversity of provision, course content, teaching and assessment. As such, they are responsible for designing and implementing their own policies and approaches to the use of AI.

In addition, the Office for Students, under Condition B4 of its regulatory framework, requires qualifications to remain credible reflections of students' knowledge and skills and can take regulatory action where providers fail to meet those requirements.

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