With the scope of the application of AI forever growing, and in response to client queries about how this impacts the Career Progression Gateway (CPG), we thought it would be useful to share how VCA currently address this and what we have in development to adapt to this evolving trend.

  • 1

    On the Career Progression Gateway (CPG) assessment platform we have updated all candidate instructions to advise that written content will be AI checked.

  • 2

    We manually check all Case Study submissions though an AI checker. We are looking at options to update our systems so this is done automatically once the answer is submitted. (No Case Study submissions have been flagged as suspicious to date.)

  • 3

    We are considering use of remote screen viewing capability for remote CPGs (this is where VCA invigilates CPG assessments so candidates attend from their chosen location). We are still researching this, and will seek your, the client’s, feedback. For the time being, we advise clients that if they have any concerns regarding potential use of AI by their candidates’, to consider running CPGs in-house, or get in touch to discuss options further.

  • 4

    We are in the final testing stages of improving the formatting functions in the answer box plus the ability to expand/ pop out the background information/answer box. As this functionality will represent a similar feature set to MS Word we are proposing to remove the option of candidates using MS Word for their answers. This will also help us protect the system from AI as information will not be able to copied to another window.

  • 5
    A benefit of typing Case Study answers into the CPG answer box is that our invigilators can see answers being typed ‘live.’ This gives an extra assurance, as we can verify that candidates were typing, and not pasting pre-written content into the answer box.
  • 6
    If our AI checker does flag a potential issue during our checks, we will pass this information to you.

Obviously, there are deeper ethical issues surrounding use of AI in an assessment context. Any suggestion that cheating can influence results can have significant implications for an organisation’s functioning and culture.

The CPG already reflects many of the precautions being taken by organisations within broader educational and assessment settings. This includes the use of AI detection software, supervision/ monitoring of online assessments, ‘open book’ style job simulations (where context and detail is provided to encourage critical thinking and problem solving), face to face interactions (the MS Teams roleplay), and the evaluation of ‘integrity’ as a core behavioural marker within the assessment criteria.

Many FRS’s are increasing attention on how ethics are demonstrated within their organisation, for example ‘ethical dilemmas’ training activity. Adding to this with appropriate use of AI tools may be of benefit.

Click here to download a short article on key AI considerations which may be useful for you to review in relation to policy within your organisation.

We’re keen to hear how AI might be impacting your organisation, both positively and in terms of challenges, and what your stance/ policy would be in relation to unfair or inappropriate use of this.

If you would appreciate broader discussion on AI in relation to assessments, ethics and policy with colleagues from other FRS’s we can facilitate an on-line meeting on this topic in February 2025. Register your interest by emailing chrisalford@vcaltd.co.uk.