Reflections form over time, and after our participation in the NORDUnet conference, there was a lot to reflect on! 

Our stand had a wonderful backdrop of Luleå harbor, which created a calm atmosphere for discussing the future of education. And the world in general.

I focused on the Education track chaired by Vegard Moen (Sikt). The track examined how AI is reshaping education in secondary schools and higher education, challenging traditional curricula, teaching, and assessment, and explored how education systems are adapting to prepare learners for a rapidly changing world. The sessions moved past the now-familiar “should we redesign curricula” question into concrete accounts of institutions already doing it in pilots and preparing to change at scale!

On the portfolio approach to address the AI-crisis in assessment specifically, two talks stood out.

  1. Andreas Robertsen (UiT The Arctic University of Norway) described work conducted in 2025–2026 to develop, test, and implement innovative assessment methods that address the challenges posed by widespread LLM access while maintaining academic integrity, promoting learning, and reducing reliance on traditional exams. 
  2. And a shameless plug for my colleague: during the lightning round, Pieter J. Smits presented Portflow, framing the “crisis in assessment” argument directly: most institutions have initially responded to AI by policing, proctoring, and punishing use, but since AI is now embedded in work and research, that stance is unsustainable; the more durable shift is toward process over product, evaluating the development of skills and competencies over time rather than relying on one-time test scores.

Together, these sessions made a strong practical case that a portfolio model, tracking growth, reflection, and applied skill-building across a programme, is emerging as the leading institutional response to AI-driven assessment disruption, and one worth evaluating against curriculum and assessment practices going forward.

Kudos to the organizing committee for hosting us in a wonderful city and cultural center, the boat trip, Swedish cuisine in woodfire-heated tents on an island, and with the Northern Lights to top it all off!

Already looking forward to next years edition. 

Bas ten Holter 

Photos taken by Anna Goscinna-Poulsen &Pol Triquell Lombardo

About the Author: Bas Ten Holter

Bas is Director of Strategic Partnerships & Business Development for the UK and Europe at Drieam. With more than 20 years in EdTech, he helped scale European operations for Instructure (Canvas LMS) and Salesforce (Education Cloud). At Drieam, he works with institutions, sector bodies and EdTech partners to grow the reach of Portflow and Eduframe. He’s passionate about the shift from “degree as a product” to learners’ portfolios of skills, and about European solutions that help institutions introduce AI-proof assessment and new revenue streams.