On 27 October 2026, the webinar “Assessment in Higher Education in the Era of AI and Digital Technologies” will be held by UNESCO IITE to exchange perspectives on assessment in higher education in the era of AI and digital technologies and discuss effective, responsible and sustainable assessment practices. The event is part of a webinar series organized within the project “Promoting ICT Capacity Building and Open Education in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies” implemented jointly by UNESCO IITE and Shanghai Open University (SOU).
Background
The rapid development and widespread adoption of digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI), including generative AI, are transforming approaches to teaching and learning in higher education. Consequently, assessment strategies and practices are being reshaped, and new opportunities are being created for more authentic, flexible, learner-centred and inclusive forms of assessment and feedback. At the same time, the growing integration of digital technologies and AI presents new challenges for the design and delivery of assessment, highlighting issues related to academic integrity, authorship, validity, reliability and trust. It also raises concerns about privacy, data governance, transparency, and equity, and questions how assessment can provide evidence of students’ higher-order thinking, creativity, critical judgement and problem-solving abilities.
Open and distance learning (ODL) universities have played a pioneering role in widening access to higher education and supporting diverse learner populations across different social, geographical and educational contexts. Their experience in delivering education at a distance and leveraging digital technologies provides valuable insights into the design and delivery of assessment, quality assurance, feedback and monitoring of learning in technology-enhanced environments. The use of open tools and technologies supports the development of adaptable, accessible and interoperable approaches to assessment. The emergence of AI, particularly generative AI, offers an opportunity to build on this experience and rethink assessment in a digital and AI-enabled higher education environment.
Objectives
The webinar aims to bring together higher education stakeholders, including teachers, administrators and practitioners from ODL institutions and conventional universities across countries and regions, to discuss how assessment is changing in the era of AI and digital technologies. The webinar intends to:
- examine trends and developments in assessment strategies and practices in higher education amid the growing use of AI and digital technologies;
- explore assessment design and delivery approaches that foster quality, inclusive and human-centred education in digital and AI-enabled environments;
- explore the potential of digital technologies and tools, including open solutions, to support effective, ethical and sustainable assessment practices;
- facilitate informed decision-making on the responsible use of digital technologies and AI in assessment practices;
- support the development of educators’ digital and AI competencies for assessment in higher education.
Tentative Agenda
Opening and welcome remarks
Keynote presentations
- Prof. Juvy Lizette M. Gervacio, Director, Center for Open and Digital Teaching and Learning, University of the Philippines Open University
- Prof. Daniela Gachago, Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching, University of Cape Town
- Dr Christian M. Stracke, Coordinator Ethical AI and Education Research, University of Bonn
Participant reflection and discussion
Key takeaways and closing remarks
Format
The webinar will be held online via Zoom on 27 October 2026, 10.00 CET (Paris). Length: 90 minutes.
The working language
English
Registration
To register for the webinar, follow the link.