Essay-based assessment more vital than ever in an AI age

EVERY semester, I notice many of my Master’s students struggling with the heavy reading loads and the demands of essay writing. Many attribute this difficulty to their undergraduate training, where assessments were limited to “reports” – a format that rarely reflects the critical and analytical depth expected at the postgraduate level.

I suspect these issues stem from a lack of exposure to basic academic writing, as Malaysian undergraduate arts programmes often prioritise vocational training over the critical studies germane to the humanities.