Breakout session - From Policy to Practice: AI-Enabled Oral Assessment for Learner Success

Vocational and tertiary providers are under pressure to respond to changing learner needs, strengthen assessment quality, improve productivity, and turn policy intent into practice. This presentation shares how Fruition Horticulture and Scarlatti redesigned assessment using Vocina, an AI-enabled oral assessment platform. The project addressed two challenges. For many vocational learners, including Māori, Pasifika, ESOL learners and those with literacy barriers, written assessment can obscure what they know and can do. For higher-level learners, including Fruition’s Level 6 diploma students, AI-generated work is raising concerns about authenticity and academic integrity. With Vocina, learners complete structured oral assessments through a guided AI agent. Tutors set the questions, prompts and rubric alignment, while the agent asks follow-up questions to clarify or deepen responses. Recordings, transcripts and summaries support tutor judgement and moderation, but the final decision remains with the educator. The approach has reduced barriers for priority learners and enabled professional learners to explain, defend and apply their thinking in real time. This session will show how the model moved from pilot to embedded practice across horticulture, leadership and primary industry programmes. Participants will gain practical insights into inclusive oral assessment, managing AI risk, and using technology to strengthen professional judgement.