{"id":344152,"date":"2026-03-23T19:51:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T19:51:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/344152\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T19:51:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T19:51:08","slug":"massey-university-brings-back-in-person-exams-to-combat-ai-cheating","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/344152\/","title":{"rendered":"Massey University brings back in-person exams to combat AI cheating"},"content":{"rendered":"

Schools are also grappling with the rise of generative AI and how to detect whether a student\u2019s work is authentic.<\/p>\n

The distance-learning student, who wished to remain anonymous, said he opted for distance learning as it gave him a good balance of juggling full-time work and study.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs my hours vary every week, I tend to study, do exams or quizzes in the middle of the night as it is the only time I have to complete my work to a high standard.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was shocked when I got an email saying at least one of my exams would require me to attend in person. I would have opted for a different paper if I were aware of this during my course selection period last year.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said he could not withdraw from the papers that have in-person exams, as the announcement came four days after the date students were allowed to withdraw without financial penalty. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat makes it more annoying is that, as a distance student, I am also not entitled to certain benefits, such as discounted public transport, for example, but I am now expected to travel in.<\/p>\n

\u201cDecisions like this will make me consider my studying future with the university.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Massey University spokesperson said a range of factors had led to the decision to resume in-person exams.<\/p>\n

The move was to \u201censure assessments are completed under consistent, invigilated conditions that demonstrate each student\u2019s individual learning, supports academic integrity and provides a fair and level assessment environment for all learners\u201d. <\/p>\n

\"MasseyMassey University is moving back to in-person exams. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n

When asked if the move was in response to the rise in generative AI, the spokesperson said it influenced the decision<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Disability at Massey, a group that advocates for those with disabilities, posted online last month that it was disappointed the decision was made without consulting disabled and distance learners. <\/p>\n

The university spokesperson said \u201calternative examination arrangements\u201d would continue to be offered to students with disabilities, injuries, impairments or other specific exam needs. <\/p>\n

They also added that the university\u2019s senior leadership team consulted with staff and students last year. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe recognise that some groups would have preferred to be more closely involved in the process, and we are committed to ongoing engagement with Disability Services and our student community as we implement this process.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among the more than 60 exam venues set up across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific, there are 21 locations nationwide from Auckland to Invercargill.<\/p>\n

A further 37 sites are spread across Australia, with six additional overseas venues in places such as Fiji, Tonga and Hong Kong.<\/p>\n

Last year, the Victoria University law school made students return to in-person exams just four weeks before examinations were due to begin. <\/p>\n

Bryony James, Provost Professor at Victoria University, confirmed the decision was based on concerns about students using AI for cheating.<\/p>\n

She said two of the law school\u2019s courses \u2013 LAWS 312: Equity, Trusts and Succession and LAWS 334: Ethics and the Law \u2013 included externally regulated exams that must be held in person and invigilated.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fast rise of AI, especially tools that are embedded in computers, means it has become increasingly difficult to invigilate exams on laptops,\u201d James said.<\/p>\n

An Auckland University spokesperson said some of its exams also required traditional pen and paper formats. <\/p>\n

They said it also administered exams digitally with in-person overseers, through lockdown browsers and by accessing the students\u2019 screens remotely. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe regularly rethink assessment design, taking into account emerging technologies and AI, to ensure confidence in the authenticity of a student\u2019s work and to be sure our standards are rigorously upheld.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sign up to The Daily H<\/a>, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Schools are also grappling with the rise of generative AI and how to detect whether a student\u2019s work…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":344153,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[365,3471,1863,1038,55902,7236,13736,56388,19345,23546,159389,25449,661,17306,111,139,69,1642,183478,5415,1527,7192,85477,213,3767,61,1528,80],"class_list":["post-344152","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-ai","tag-among","tag-back","tag-brings","tag-cheating","tag-combat","tag-counter","tag-exams","tag-field","tag-forcing","tag-inperson","tag-level","tag-major","tag-massey","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-online","tag-penandpaper","tag-playing","tag-return","tag-risk","tag-scholars","tag-sports","tag-students","tag-to","tag-university","tag-zealand"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/344152","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=344152"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/344152\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/344153"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=344152"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=344152"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=344152"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}