Irish lecturers' unions call for a rethink of assessment over AI
Two Irish unions say relying only on detecting or banning AI is outdated in higher education. They want assessment redesigned, more staff training and one national approach so that no student is put at a disadvantage.
Two Irish unions that represent lecturers said on 6 November 2026 that higher education must change how it assesses students because of AI.
The Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) and the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) held a symposium on AI and assessment that day at the Grangegorman campus of Technological University Dublin. In a joint statement, they said that relying only on detecting AI or banning it is now outdated.
Use of AI tools is no longer a future concern or a hypothetical issue; it is the present reality across Ireland’s higher education campuses.
The unions listed five demands. They want a say in decisions about AI and a review of how assessment is designed and run. They also want large investment in staff training and clear guidelines that are revised regularly.
Their fifth demand is one national approach, so that no student is put at a disadvantage.
The statement said continuous assessment is under particular pressure. It has long been central to Irish higher education. Michael Gillespie, general secretary of the TUI, said many members are worried about the integrity of assessment.
RTÉ reported that lecturers at the meeting described students using AI as a shortcut for assignments and essays. Some said it harms critical thinking. Others said it can be used creatively. Both unions agreed that AI should not be banned, RTÉ said.
For students and lecturers in Ireland, no rule has changed. The statement sets out what the unions will ask of policymakers and colleges. They did not say which body should lead a national approach or what new forms of assessment should look like. Neither the statement nor the RTÉ report included a response from the government or from the colleges.