(S2E09) Sheffield Hallam University: Is policing AI futile?
In this episode of Assessment in Focus, host Ishan Kolhatkar sits down with Dr. Alison Purvis, Associate Dean for Learning, Teaching, and Student Success at Sheffield Hallam University.
Bringing decades of higher education leadership and sector-level experience with Jisc and the OfS, Alison breaks down the critical boundaries between using AI for learning enhancement versus relying on it for high-stakes academic judgment.
Is policing AI futile? While acknowledging that generative AI can rapidly produce structured formative feedback, Dr. Purvis emphasises that it lacks the context, accuracy, and nuance required for reliable summative grading, and asks how we can rethink assessment design by embedding authentic, higher-order critical thinking tasks and collaborating with employers to align with modern industry practices.
5 Aug 2026
(S2E08) University of Edinburgh: Protecting Reflection in the Age of AI
In this episode of Assessment in Focus, host Ishan Kolhatkar sits down with Julian Rawel, Director of MBA Programmes at the University of Edinburgh Business School.
The episode covers how business schools must protect their core tradition of providing a space for students to step back, discuss, and reflect on ideas without the immediate pressure of workplace deliverables while adopting AI for practical, pedigogical purposes.
29 Jul 2026
(S2E07) Connecting Legal Education (CLE): The Future of Assessment in Legal Education
In this special episode of Assessment in Focus, host Ishan Kolhatkar welcomes the largest panel of guests in the show’s history: Professor Lydia Bleasdell (University of Leeds), Dr. Verona Ní Drisceoil (University of Sussex), Arwyn Joyce (University of Leicester), and Professor Michael Doherty (Lancaster University). Together, they founded Connecting Legal Education (CLE) in March 2020.
Founded in March 2020, the initial purpose of CLE was to provide an online platform for legal educators to share conference papers canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also provided a platform and space to share best practice in student education more broadly. Since then, CLE has grown into a fully formed community that grew from 20 participants to nearly 450 members across 12 countries: https://www.connectinglegaleducation.org/
Together, the panel dive into digital assessment in a world of AI, the two-lane assessment model and the disconnects between the teaching and practice of law, as well as a host of other topics.
22 Jul 2026
(S2E06) Queen Mary University of London: Beyond Essays — Rethinking Assessment in the AI Era
In this episode of Assessment in Focus, host Ishan Kolhatkar sits down with Professor Chie Adachi, Dean for Digital Education and Interim Academic Director for the Centre of Excellence in AI in Education at Queen Mary University of London.
For centuries, Western higher education has treated the written essay as the ultimate hallowed turf for demonstrating knowledge. But in the era of GenAI where text generation is common, is our obsession with writing actually holding students back from developing true, human-centered capabilities?
15 Jul 2026
(S2E05) University of Leeds: How can we ensure learning in the age of AI?
In the fifth episode of season 2 of the Assessment in Focus podcast, host Ishan Kolhatkar sits down with Matt Cornock, Senior Leader at the University of Leeds and Trustee of the Association for Learning Technology (ALT), to address a critical question:
If students admit that they aren’t learning when they outsource their thinking to AI, how can we ensure learning in the age of AI?
When students themselves start pushing back on using AI because they value the struggle of learning, it’s a clear sign that higher education is at a massive turning point.
In this episode, our speakers tackle the shift from treating assessment as a high-pressure, punitive hurdle to celebrating it as a flexible, developmental tool that propels learning forward. As students universally utilise it for exam preparation and structuring thoughts, how can institutions embrace a balanced model of AI use?
8 Jul 2026
(S204) Open University: “Assessment just built on recall, routine production, or simple generation of an answer is no longer enough”
In the fourteenth episode of the Assessment in Focus podcast, host Ishan Kolhatkar sits down with Professor Ian Pickup, Pro Vice Chancellor of Students at The Open University, for an open and honest conversation on the future of learning, grading, and academic integrity in the age of GenAI.
1 Jul 2026
(S2E03) University of Bristol: We've got what I would call a Pandora's box. We've taken the lid off the AI box and we don't know what the end of the road looks like.
In the third episode of Season 2 of the Assessment in Focus podcast, host Ishan Kolhakkar sits down with Dr. Patricia Broadfoot, Professor Emeritus of the Sociology of Education at the University of Bristol, to dissect the profound evolution, systemic barriers, and uncertain future of educational assessment.
24 Jun 2026
(S2E02) University of London: If we could go back to the invention of Assessment, what would we change?
In this episode of Assessment in Focus, host Ishan Kolhatkar sits down with Professor Sam Brenton, Director of Lifelong Learning at the University of London, to challenge the traditional boundaries of higher education. In this episode, Sam argues that assessment is inherently a learning act. If we designed education from scratch today, learning and assessment would be seamlessly integrated, not divided.
17 Jun 2026
(S2E01) University of Surrey: How do we move away from the "transmission model" of feedback and actually help students put insights into practice?
In the season two premiere of Assessment in Focus, host Ishan Kolhatkar sits down with Naomi Winstone, Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Surrey and co-author of Designing Effective Feedback Processes in Higher Education.
In this episode, Naomi shares game-changing insights into how institutions can shift from high-stakes "grade justification" to meaningful, continuous learning.
Whether you are looking for practical strategies to increase student engagement, curious about the realities of audio/video feedback, or navigating assessment redesign in the age of GenAI, this conversation is packed with actionable expertise.
Ishan Kolhatkar interviews Peter Alston and Laila Barbe from BPP University, who explore aligning assessments with future skills and transforming the student experience using digital tools.
16 Jul 2025
(S1E9) Simon Trevers: "For those who are already delivering some digital assessment, the question is, how do I do more? How do I break down the barriers to enable me to do more?"
Simon Trevers discusses assessment integrity, global education trends, accessibility, and formative assessments with Ishan Kolhatkar in this interview, highlighting key considerations for educators.
9 Jul 2025
(S1E8) University of Queensland: "The use of AI is more than just how to use available tools, but the knowledge of when it’s appropriate to use them…"
Learning Designer Dale Hansen from the University of Queensland examines innovative assessments and easy-to-use technology within a trusting educational culture in this interview.
18 Jun 2025
(S1E7) SOAS: "Taking into account learning styles, types & paces should result in assessment variety & curiosity."
Stephanie Conway and Edel O’Neill from SOAS discuss student preferences for digital assessments and communication strategies to boost engagement and innovation, in an interview with Ishan Kolhatkar.
4 Jun 2025
(S1E6) Instructure: "Technology should scaffold, not replace, the teacher-student connection."
Ishan Kolhatkar interviews Ryan Lufkin, who examines how technology enhances education by supporting teacher-student relationships, promoting AI literacy, and enabling mastery-based assessment.
21 May 2025
(S1E5) University of Reading: "You cannot assume digital literacy in the younger population, despite the common perception."
A new episode of Assessment in Focus podcast has landed. This time, Ishan is joined by Svetlana Mazhurnaya, Director of Academic English Assessment, and Phil Smyth, Deputy Director of Academic English Assessment at the International Study and Language Institute (ISLI)at the University of Reading.
In this fascinating discussion they cover how institutions can collaborate when implementing new technology, the challenges of assessing a global study body and the use of AI in formative assessment.
Explore Ishan’s blog posts:
https://www.inspera.com/author/ishan-kolhatkar/ (https://www.inspera.com/author/ishan-kolhatkar/)
Find out how Inspera can help with your assessment strategy: https://www.inspera.com/demo/ (https://www.inspera.com/demo/)
Download our free Trustworthy AI white paper: https://www.inspera.com/whitepapers/ (https://www.inspera.com/whitepapers/)
7 May 2025
(S1E4) South Arkansas College: "One of the challenges... is how to critically analyse and understand the assessment process."
Our series of real stories of digital assessment transformation continues with this episode's guests: Christy Wilson and Dr James Yates from South Arkansas College.
With host, Ishan Kolhatkar, they discuss how the future of assessment is about design orientation, how we teach critical thinking to students and how AI has changed the definition of academic integrity.
Explore Ishan’s blog posts: https://www.inspera.com/author/ishan-kolhatkar/ (https://www.inspera.com/author/ishan-kolhatkar/)
Find out how Inspera can help with your assessment strategy: https://www.inspera.com/demo/ (https://www.inspera.com/demo/)
Download our free Trustworthy AI white paper: https://www.inspera.com/whitepapers/ (https://www.inspera.com/whitepapers/)
Episode 3 of Assessment in Focus features a name synonymous with feedback research and the impact of artificial intelligence in assessment, Prof Phillip Dawson, co-director of the Center for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning (Cradle) at Deakin University in Australia.
Hosted by Ishan Kolhatkar, he and Phillip discuss feedback literacy, the skills required by academics and graduates now that AI content generation is ubiquitous, as well as reframing academic integrity. Does validity matter more than cheating?
“If we try to say to students, ‘don't you use AI’, and then they go and use it but we don't have a real way to stop that - that really hurts validity.”
Explore Ishan’s blog posts: https://www.inspera.com/author/ishan-kolhatkar/ (https://www.inspera.com/author/ishan-kolhatkar/)
Find out how Inspera can help with your assessment strategy: https://www.inspera.com/demo/ (https://www.inspera.com/demo/)
Download our free Trustworthy AI white paper: https://www.inspera.com/whitepapers/ (https://www.inspera.com/whitepapers/)
9 Apr 2025
(S1E2) Coventry University: “Adaptive learning personalisation and assessment will become increasingly important.”
“Inspera’s been the enabler.”
Watch episode 2 of Assessment in Focus - real stories of digital assessment transformation - with host Ishan Kolhatkar.
This week, Professor Andrew Turner and Martyn Jenkins from the University join Ishan to discuss AI in assessment, the future and what they've learned in their own assessment practice.
Explore Ishan’s blog posts: https://www.inspera.com/author/ishan-kolhatkar/ (https://www.inspera.com/author/ishan-kolhatkar/)
Find out how Inspera can help with your assessment strategy: https://www.inspera.com/demo/ (https://www.inspera.com/demo/)
Download our free Trustworthy AI white paper: https://www.inspera.com/whitepapers/ (https://www.inspera.com/whitepapers/)
3 Apr 2025
(S1E1) University of London: Degree assessment is exhausting for everyone involved…
In this first episode, Ishan is joined by Dr Linda Amrane-cooper, Director of Academic Practice and Michael Sawyer, Project Manager from the University of London. The University pivoted their digital assessment strategy during the COVID lockdown and now ~100,000 online proctored exams per year are delivered, submitted and marked per year globally.
Together, they discuss the future of assessment practices and the lessons they’ve learned by implementing digital assessment.
Who has been a guest on Assessment in Focus
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Peter Alston
Laila Barbe
Simon Trevers
Dale Hansen
Stephanie Conway
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