Clear, fair assessment in the age of artificial intelligence
In response to generative artificial intelligence (AI), Griffith is redesigning assessment to reduce reliance on AI detection tools and ensure students can demonstrate their learning. The University’s Gateway Course strategy secures essential learning outcomes across degree programs by mapping key, high-stakes assessments to designated Gateway Courses. This provides confidence that students develop critical thinking, creativity and the ability to use AI responsibly.
Our Approach
Griffith is taking a systematic, whole-of-degree approach to assessment in an AI-enabled world. Across our programs, assessments are designed under one of three clear AI conditions: secure, responsible use, and optional use.
Optional Use Assessments
Optional use assessments allow students to choose whether to use AI. If they do, they must show responsible use and meet the learning outcomes without over-relying on AI. Failing to correctly reference AI will constitute academic misconduct.
Responsible Use Assessments
Responsible use assessments assess students’ ability to use AI effectively and responsibly as part of the task. This includes technical capability as well as the social, legal and ethical considerations expected in professional practice. Working with AI is required in these assessments, and failing to correctly reference AI will constitute academic misconduct.
Secure Assessments
Secure assessments use tasks where AI must not be used because doing so will constitute academic misconduct. These are used in the Gateway Courses that provide confidence in assured learning.
These three AI conditions make expectations clear for students and staff, and guide how assessments are designed across each program.
They balance two priorities: confidence in what students can do independently, and rich learning experiences (including teamwork) that support development. It also ensures every student learns how to use AI well and responsibly.
AI prohibited Gateway Courses
The University’s Gateway Course strategy provides confidence that students achieve key knowledge, skills and capabilities such as critical thinking and creativity. Using a whole-of-degree approach, learning outcomes are mapped across each program and key high-stakes assessments are identified in Gateway Courses. Every learning outcome in a degree is secured through at least one Gateway Course, and these courses will account for at least 25% of the courses in any degree. In practice, most undergraduate students will complete close to half their degree through Gateway Courses.
Assuring learning
In Gateway Courses, assessments are designed to provide confidence that students complete tasks without AI assistance. For example, students may:
- sit an invigilated exam
- demonstrate knowledge and skills in a workplace setting (for example, through a placement with supervisor validation)
- produce written work in a platform that captures their writing process
- defend their written work and learning through an unscripted oral assessment
- demonstrate knowledge and skills through a lab or performance.
Building capability
The Griffith strategy also supports cultural change by equipping academics to design high-quality assessment and teaching in an AI-enabled world. This includes support to build durable skills in students and to address ethical, legal and technical considerations so graduates can operate with integrity and professional confidence.
Using AI responsibly is now a graduate capability. Across every program, students learn when AI use is appropriate, how to use it transparently, and how to meet academic and professional standards.
AI and academic integrity
No matter what form of assessment students undertake, Griffith takes academic integrity seriously. Where concerns arise, the University follows established academic integrity processes, including careful review and investigation, to ensure outcomes are fair for students and credible for stakeholders.
AI in Learning and Teaching (AI Hub)
Visit the AI Hub - Learning & Teaching page to catch up on these topics along with the Griffith University AI Framework.