Students innovate as they evaluate essays written by AI

Published on 16, June, 2025

Students at the University of Sunderland are flipping the script on artificial intelligence (AI) by marking their AI-generated essays instead.

Business students have been tasked to investigate the effectiveness and ethics of using AI in the workplace by reviewing essays generated by chatbots for one of their assessments.

Students are given a prompt to generate an article that discusses different approaches that business leaders can take when collaborating with others. They then must evaluate the quality and reliability of the article.

This use of AI aims to reinforce what students have learned about leadership whilst giving them the skills to access the jobs of the future.

Thanusanth Kamalachandran, who studied Business and Management at the University and took part in this assessment, said: “AI is becoming an important tool in developing future leaders by helping them make better decisions, spot trends, and optimize strategies quickly.

“However, AI can't replace the human touch as it lacks emotional intelligence, creativity, and the ability to fully understand complex, real-world situations. Sometimes, AI can miss important details or offer biased insights based on the data it's trained on.

“Assignments like this module help future leaders practice critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and digital literacy, while also encouraging personal growth and self-awareness.

“In the end, AI can enhance leadership development, but it’s the human touch that ensures decisions are made with integrity and understanding.”

Dr Matti Morovat BEM, Lecturer in Business at the University, said: “AI is becoming increasingly prominent in business and strategic decision-making, making it essential for future leaders to assess AI-generated content for accuracy, depth, and relevance.

“This assignment challenges students to critically evaluate such content, sharpening their analytical skills and preparing them to leverage technology responsibly in leadership roles.

“By developing the ability to discern reliable insights from AI while maintaining critical thinking and sound judgment, students enhance their career readiness, ensuring they can navigate an evolving digital landscape with confidence and strategic acumen.”

The assessment is part of the Strategic Leadership and Collaboration module, in which students also utilise AI in multiple ways such as creating superheroes using AI-generative software to help visualise positive attributes of leaders.

Dr Yvonne Dixon-Todd, Head of School of Business, Management and Tourism at the University, said: “AI is becoming an increasingly widespread part of our lives, both in the home and the workplaces, touching on all aspects of our lives. Businesses and employers are increasingly looking at ways AI can support business and create both efficiencies and smarter ways of working.

“Here at the University of Sunderland, we strive to ensure our students are equipped with the skills and experience needed to enter the ever-developing workplace. Ensuring AI and its use cases are fully embedded into the curriculum is just one of the ways we achieve this.”

If you are interested in studying Business and Management at the University of Sunderland, find out more here.

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