Our February HE AI Community meetup followed our usual lean coffee format, giving participants the chance to vote on the topics they most wanted to explore. The conversation this month gravitated towards institutional approaches to building AI capability, alongside ongoing questions about assessment, academic integrity and what AI means for core human skills.
Developing AI capability across staff
Our most popular topic centred on how universities are supporting staff to build the AI skills they need. The conversation touched on the potential of AI skills diagnostics to help institutions gauge baseline capability and plan next steps.
Members described taking layered, flexible approaches rather than relying on a single institution-wide solution. Examples included:
- Introductory AI literacy sessions
- Themed workshops on areas such as assessment or prompting
- Self-directed online resources
- Faculty-led activity tailored to local needs
Short, practical sessions came up repeatedly as particularly helpful — especially those that connect directly to day-to-day academic tasks and encourage peer discussion.
Resourcing remains a challenge. In many universities, small cross-departmental teams — often involving libraries, digital services, academic departments and IT — are leading the work. Practice-sharing events and open networks are helping to spread confidence and expertise across institutions.
Although our focus was staff development, many institutions are also thinking about how to embed AI literacy into student programmes, with students increasingly influencing how institutions shape their response.
Impact of AI on human skills
The second highest-voted topic explored how AI tools are affecting core human capabilities such as focus, analytical thinking, reading depth and curiosity.
Participants reflected thoughtfully on whether relying on AI-generated summaries or drafting support might reduce deeper engagement with complex material. AI can certainly speed up information processing, but there is a risk of surface-level engagement if outputs are not used critically.
At the same time, members shared creative examples of using AI to strengthen — not replace — critical thinking. These included:
- Structured critique of AI outputs
- Simulated professional scenarios (eg interview preparation)
- Exercises where students compare AI-generated work with their own analysis
In these examples, AI becomes a tool for reflection and challenge rather than a shortcut. A recurring theme was that impact depends less on the technology itself and more on how learning activities are designed.
Assessment design and the future of written work
Assessment design remains a major point of discussion across the community. Members shared examples of reviewing and “AI testing” existing assessment formats to understand potential vulnerabilities.
The role of the essay generated lively debate. Some raised concerns about authenticity in unsupervised written tasks, while others emphasised the cognitive value of extended writing. The group cautioned against abandoning well-established formats without a strong pedagogical reason.
Practical approaches included:
- Adding short oral components to check understanding
- Diversifying assessment formats
- Placing more emphasis on process, not just product
As in previous meetups, we returned to a core principle: effective assessment redesign depends on clarity about learning outcomes, transparency about AI use and fair, proportionate expectations of students.
Closing thoughts
One clear message from February’s discussion: AI capability building is now a central institutional priority rather than an add-on. Members spoke openly about balancing the need to move quickly with the responsibility to protect academic standards. Across the board, there was consistent agreement that AI literacy is essential for both staff and students.
Our next HE AI Community meetup will take place at 15:30 on Tuesday 17 March 2026. We would love you to join us and share your perspective as we continue the conversation.
Links shared during the call
- A guidance site on the appropriate use of Gen AI tools at Ulster
- UAL AI Network Meeting – 4th Feb. 2026: Creativity, Ethics, and Student Voice
- UAL Practice sharing day Student uses and perspectives on Generative AI
- Jisc AI Literacy Training
- Thinking—Fast, Slow, and Artificial: How AI is Reshaping Human Reasoning
- UCL AI Assessment Challenge presentation
- UCL IOE Faculty AI Communication, Investigations & Learning Exchange
- Jisc blog – ChatGPT’s Study Mode: What I Wish I’d Had as a Student
- Open University study on Hardie, L. et al. (2024). Developing robust assessment in the light of Generative AI developments.
- Institute of AI Education
- Institute of AI Education LinkedIn
- Jisc Artificial Intelligence community
Find out more by visiting our Artificial Intelligence page to explore publications and resources, learn more about our communities and sign up for our AI Literacy training.
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Get in touch with the team directly at AI@jisc.ac.uk