Cross-Sector Collaboration Key to Navigating AI Challenges in Tertiary Education

In June 2024, QAA Scotland hosted a crucial symposium in Glasgow titled “Addressing the Anxiety of Assessment in an AI World.” This event gathered educators, researchers, and leaders from various sectors of tertiary education to explore the rapidly evolving impact of generative AI on assessment practices. The discussions highlighted both the challenges and opportunities presented by AI, creating a collaborative space for the development of shared solutions.

Scotland’s unique approach to post-16 education emphasizes a holistic tertiary framework, promoting cohesion and collaboration across different educational sectors. Through initiatives like the Tertiary Quality Project, QAA Scotland has fostered an environment where General Further Education Colleges, Higher Education Institutions, and Independent Training Providers work closely together, a practice not commonly seen in the rest of the UK. The Glasgow symposium was a testament to this ethos, designed to facilitate cross-sector dialogue that strengthens Scotland’s educational ecosystem and offers a model for other regions to emulate.

The symposium’s structure encouraged meaningful exchanges between participants from diverse professional backgrounds. Sessions like “Confronting Bias and Discrimination when Using Generative AI in Educational Settings” showcased the value of cross-sector collaboration. Participants from various educational and third-sector organizations discussed AI’s potential to perpetuate bias in assessments and worked together to devise strategies for mitigating these risks.

A keynote session titled “Assessment in an AI World,” co-delivered by Joe Wilson, Digital Skills and Technology Manager at City of Glasgow College, and Dominik Lukes, Assistive Technology Officer at the University of Oxford, exemplified the benefits of combining different professional perspectives. Their presentation offered a comprehensive understanding of AI in assessment, blending practical insights with theoretical concepts, and underscored the importance of cross-sector collaboration in addressing the challenges posed by new technologies.

The Glasgow symposium highlighted the critical role of collaboration in navigating the complexities of AI in education. As the UK government considers more integrated quality assurance strategies, Scotland’s model of cross-sector cohesion offers valuable lessons for the future of tertiary education across the UK.