In the media

New UK government guidance allows teachers to use AI for routine tasks, aiming to save time on administrative tasks. The Department for Education states AI use should be transparent, results checked, and approved tools utilized. While beneficial for workload reduction, experts note that for widespread adoption, more investment, research, and parental acceptance are required.

The General Secretary of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) highlighted the significance of the ongoing investigation into a fake diploma scandal and its implications for corruption within senior bureaucratic and political circles. He pledges the CTP's commitment to monitoring the process and work towards enhancing the effectiveness of regulatory bodies like the Higher Education Planning, Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination Council YÖDAK to improve governance and accountability in higher education institutions.

British universities and private pathway providers for international students face accusations of admitting overseas students with lower entry requirements compared to domestic counterparts. This has prompted concerns about fairness and transparency in admissions practices with foreign students sometimes paying up to £38,000 (US$48,000) in tuition fees as opposed to no more than £9,250 (US$11,700) for UK students. The controversy highlights issues around pathways such as International Year One programs and the role of agents in recruitment, sparking calls for more ethical approaches and greater scrutiny in international student recruitment.

Ofsted inspectors are reportedly fabricating evidence due to frequent crashes in the electronic evidence gathering (EEG) system introduced in 2018. The Observer's investigation reveals anonymous claims that senior Ofsted leaders have known and covered these technical problems. Critics argue that inspections over the past five years should be invalidated if widespread evidence fabrication is true. Ofsted insists that judgments are backed by sufficient evidence, but the Observer found evidence of potential issues in Ofsted's written response to a school's complaint about missing evidence.

A study reveals that a significant number of UK universities continue to accept millions in cash for tuition and accommodation payments, making them vulnerable to money laundering risks. Around 22 universities still accepted cash payments, with the total reaching £12m in 2019-20. The research highlights concern about anti-money-laundering guidelines not being strictly followed and universities not reporting suspicious activity, potentially endangering staff and students. The study calls for stricter legislation to address these vulnerabilities.

At a press conference, the Minister of Higher Education admitted to violating government rules by participating in a January meeting that approved a NOK2.6 billion (US$257 million) contract with an ammunition manufacturer. This contract later expanded to NOK4 billion. He also faces allegations of nepotism for appointing a longtime friend to the board of the Norwegian Institution for International Affairs in 2021.

With exams just around the corner, students from Bournemouth University talk about what academic integrity means to them, how using it means they get better marks, how to avoid committing an academic offence and where to get help when they need it.

The University of Oxford in the United Kingdom has announced a new policy for staff that bans any close personal relationship with students that “transgresses the boundaries of professional conduct”. This comes as regulator the Office for Students works on its regulations for staff-student relationships, launching a consultation on regulating harassment and sexual misconduct in higher education.

The United Kingdom’s top universities are split over how to respond to ChatGPT, with Oxford and Cambridge among those banning the technology over plagiarism fears, while others have opted to embrace it. 8 out of 24 of the elite Russell Group universities have informed students that using the AI bot for assignments will count as academic misconduct. Dozens of other universities across the country are reviewing their plagiarism policies in time for this year’s assessments.

Fontys University in the Netherlands is keen to teach students to think about the impact and use of educational technology through the Moral Design Game. Based on scientific insights, the game challenges players to think about the dominant values that various stakeholders draw on to make decisions. The goal of the game is to inspire and teach students, teachers, and staff to improve their thinking and debate ethical questions.