Odisee drops traditional final dissertations as AI changes higher education

University college Odisee will stop requiring traditional bachelor’s and graduate dissertations from the 2026-2027 academic year, replacing them with practical projects linked to students’ work placements.

The reform will be introduced across all bachelor’s and graduate programmes by 2027-2028. Odisee, which has campuses in Brussels, Flemish Brabant and East Flanders, says the change is partly driven by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).

“With a traditional written dissertation, students can let AI produce large parts of the work with limited personal input”, said Ann Martin, Odisee’s Director of Education.

Instead, students will complete practical projects based on real challenges from their internship or workplace. Examples include designing a new school playground, developing an AI tool for a retail company, or creating construction or agricultural projects.

“Students can let AI produce large parts of the work with limited personal input”

The projects will be assessed as part of students’ existing placement activities, rather than through a separate final examination.

Odisee also pointed to completion data. Around 75% of students who fail to graduate do so partly because of their dissertation, while many who fail the project do not return to finish their studies.

According to the university college, programmes that have already tested practice-based final projects have seen higher student engagement and more useful results for employers and organisations.

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