The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) and the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) note the recent discussion at the Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence, where international evidence—particularly from Estonia—highlighted both the rapid uptake of AI tools by students and the growing challenge this presents for educators in maintaining academic integrity and meaningful assessment.
While the focus of the committee hearing was on the school system, both unions believe that the issues raised are already firmly embedded across the higher education sector in which they represent members, including universities, technological universities, and institutes of technology.
IFUT and the TUI are jointly organising a major conference on AI that will take place this autumn.
“A rapidly changing landscape for assessment”
Commenting on the developments, IFUT General Secretary Frank Jones said:
“What we are now seeing is a fundamental shift in how students engage with learning and assessment. The widespread use of AI tools is no longer a future concern, it is a present reality across our campuses.”
“The challenge for educators is not simply detecting misuse, but rethinking assessment models in a way that ensures students genuinely acquire the knowledge and skills they are expected to demonstrate”
Both unions note that the Estonian experience, where up to 90% of students are already using AI tools, mirrors trends increasingly evident in Ireland, albeit without the same level of coordinated national response.
Assessment integrity and academic standards
The unions emphasise that the growing use of AI presents particular challenges for continuous assessment, long a cornerstone of Irish higher education.
Michael Gillespie, TUI General Secretary, stated, “There is a real and growing concern among our members about the integrity of assessment processes. Traditional approaches are being tested in ways that were simply not envisaged even a few years ago.”
“We must ensure that any response protects academic standards while also recognising that AI, used appropriately, can support learning rather than undermine it.”
A sector-wide issue requiring a coordinated response
The unions stress that this is not an issue confined to any one part of the education system, but one that spans the sector as a whole. The unions have been making the point that this is not just a schools issue, nor is it confined to universities. It is a system-wide challenge that requires a coherent, joined-up response across the entire education sector.
In that context, both unions confirm that they will be engaging closely with colleagues to examine the shared concerns arising from the growing use of AI.
Jones stated, “We intend to work collaboratively with our colleagues in the Teachers’ Union of Ireland to explore the implications of AI for teaching, learning and, critically, assessment.”
Gillespie responded, “There is a clear overlap in the concerns being expressed by educators across our respective memberships, and it is important that we develop a common understanding of both the risks and the opportunities.”
Supporting educators in adapting to change
Both unions believe that any effective response must include:
- Investment in professional development and training for educators
- The development of clear, practical guidelines on AI use
- A review of assessment design and delivery models
- Ongoing engagement with staff and their representative bodies
The unions caution against overly simplistic responses, including reliance solely on detection or prohibition and will continue to engage with policymakers, institutions, and sectoral partners to ensure that the response to AI in education is measured, evidence-based, and centred on the needs of both students and staff.