11 Jul AI & student assignments: Ethical use, cognitive risks, and new academic policies – July 2025 Newsletter

As we continue to embrace the evolving landscape of education and technology, it has become increasingly apparent that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in completing assignment question papers is on the rise. While innovation is welcome, we must pause and reflect on the implications of this trend—particularly when AI is used to bypass the learning process rather than enhance it, which will be discussed further on as you read this.

The educators and course moderators at BHA School of Lighting, Daniel Hammond and I, have been challenged in recent times by students who have turned to use AI to answer questions in assignments. After a virtual meeting, Daniel and I decided that we needed to communicate to students that whilst AI is a very useful tool and can at the right time even be that “extra” staff member, however we firmly believe the use of AI is unethical in your studies and especially when using it to answer assignment question papers. In fact, when the questions states “IN YOUR OWN WORDS” when AI is used, it is dishonest and rather insulting. Therefore, we have decided to institute an AI Use Penalty Policy: Penalties will be imposed when AI is indiscriminately used to answer assignment questions.

NEW COURSE POLICY is as follows:

When AI use is detected, a penalty of 15% will be applied to the total overall outcome grade for that assignment submission. This policy underscores our commitment to authentic learning and ensuring that each student truly benefits from the knowledge and experience this course offers.

Let us be clear: AI is a powerful tool. It is transforming industries and reshaping how we access information. Used wisely, it can support your research and deepen your understanding. But if you rely on it to do your thinking for you, you are not only undermining your education, but you are also in fact doing lasting harm to your cognitive development.

AI-generated responses have a distinct structure and tone. They often mirror the patterns of large language models, drawing from vast internet sources and course materials to produce polished, well-organized answers. While this may seem efficient, it is also easily recognizable.

More importantly, recent research from the MIT Media Lab and Cornell University has raised serious concerns about the cognitive effects of relying on AI for academic tasks. In a study involving essay writing, students who used AI tools like ChatGPT exhibited up to 55% less brain activity in regions associated with memory, creativity, and semantic processing compared to those who wrote unaided. These students were often unable to recall or quote their own essays just minutes after submitting them—a phenomenon known as cognitive offloading, where the AI does the thinking while the human brain remains passive. The full study can be found at “Your brain on Chatgpt: Accumulation of cognitive debt when using an AI assistant for essay writing“.

What does this mean for students? It means that while assignments may be completed more quickly through AI assistance, students are ultimately sacrificing the development of crucial academic skills such as critical thinking, memory retention, and creative problem-solving. Over time, this dependence on AI can erode a student’s ability to engage with and apply knowledge meaningfully.

Moving forward we encourage our students to engage with the material, wrestle with the questions, and use AI as a supplement, and not as a substitute for your own intellect. There is so much to learn in our premier course, and the journey is worth every bit of effort you invest we assure you.

With warm regards,

Philip Hammond

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Student news & more

Celebrating Excellence at BHA School of Lighting

We start off by congratulating Aris de Vrye on his remarkable achievement of successfully graduating from the Advanced Diploma in Illumination Engineering. Aris’s work consistently demonstrated an exceptional level of insight, technical mastery, and creativity. His dedication and the quality of his portfolio of assignments truly set a high benchmark for future graduates. We are very proud of Aris’ incredible achievement and we wish him all the best as he becomes even more of an assest to the team at Precision Concepts, Johnanesburg, South Africa.

We encourage all current students and those wanting to enrol as a student to draw inspiration from Aris’s journey and aim to etch their own success stories onto our “Meet our Graduates” wall, proudly displayed on our website: www.bhaschooloflighting.co.za/about/meet-our-graduates. Finally we encourage all current students to remain focused, make every moment count, and embrace the discipline which is required to thrive in the lighting industry.

Additionally, we also congratulate Lilitha Tuswa, who passed the First Year Examinations of the Advanced Diploma in Illumination Engineering and to Sara Mohammed of AE7, Buenos Aires, Argentina on her successful completetion of the Foundation Lighting Course.

Embracing a New Chapter & Honouring Academic Progress

We extend a warm welcome to all our newly enrolled students, whether joining us for one of our specialised short courses or embarking on our two-year diploma programme. To our students who successfully completed their First-Year examinations in June and are now stepping into Second Year, congratulations! The journey ahead promises to expand your understanding and elevate your professional capabilities to extraordinary heights.

To those students in both First-Year and Second-Year who are preparing for their exams, we share in the excitement and pride of watching your transformation. The road to graduation is a thrilling one, and each step forward is a celebration of growth.

First Year students preparing for the First Year examinations of our premier course are:

• Petrus Cilliers, Centurion, South Africa
• Dino Rozman, Durban, South Africa

Second Year students preparing for the Second Year examinations of our premier course are:

• Justice Bhengu, Durban, South Africa
• Savas Seckin, Istanbul, Turkiye
• Ismael Thamer Al-Obaidi, Baghdad, Iraq

June Enlightened Community Highlights & What’s Next

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined our most recent webinar featuring the incomparable David Gilbey. David is not only a true maestro in the lighting design industry, but also a generous and steadfast friend of BHA School of Lighting. His willingness to step in at a moment’s notice and his passion for sharing his knowledge make him a treasured part of our Enlightened Community. If you missed this inspiring session, catch up by watching it further down below or on the official BHA School of Lighting YouTube Channel, and don’t forget to subscribe so that you can always stay updated with our latest content.

Up next: we’re thrilled to announce our upcoming webinar, led by Henk Rotman of Tridonic SA. Further below you can find more info about the next Enlightened Community event and book your place for what will most certainly be an eye-opening and informative presentation by Henk, where he will focus in on the evolving landscape of lighting controls. We hope to see many of you there.

July Student Birthdays

Happy Birthday to the following past & present students celebrating their birthdays this month of July 2025! We hope you all have an amazing day!

• Adel Mohamed Lina, Cairo, Egypt – 1 July
• Dr Renske Snyman, Cape Town, South Africa (Graduate) – 1 July
• Jaroslaw Otremba, Jozefow, Poland (Graduate) – 3 July
• Liam Abrahams, Cape Town, South Africa (Graduate) – 3 July
• Solan Perumal, Durban, South Africa – 20 July
• Anil Naran, Johannesburg, South Africa – 23 July
• Sheetal Jain, Gurugram, Haryana, India – 23 July
• Lynette Jeppe, Bloemfontein, South Africa – 24 July
• Innocent Segoai, Johannesburg, South Africa – 25 July
• Avinash Reddy Gopu, Hyderabad, India – 27 July

Welcome to our all new BHA School of Lighting Students

• Akshay Kumar TP, Dubai, United Arab Emirates – BHASL003C19: Advanced Diploma in Illumination Engineering Course
• Takunda Trust Tekere, Harare, Zimbabwe – BHASL003C19: Advanced Diploma in Illumination Engineering Course
• Wiaan Von Benecke, Mbombela (Nelspruit), South Africa – BHASL003C19: Advanced Diploma in Illumination Engineering Course
• Aphiwe Ntsele, Tswane (Pretoria), South Africa – BHASL003C19: Advanced Diploma in Illumination Engineering Course
• Adel Mohamed Lina, Cairo, Egypt – BHASL001C20: Foundation Lighting Course
• Nady Goerge Iskandar Kamal, Cairo, Egypt – BHASL001C20: Foundation Lighting Course

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Student Spotlight: Meet Thibault Faÿ: From architecture to illuminating engineering featured in Sparks Electrical News

We are extremely proud to include this student spotlight feature in this month’s newsletter, where graduate student, Thibault Faÿ is interviewed. The article was originally published on 13 June in Sparks Electrical News by Crown Publications and can be read by following the link here, as well as other interesting articles produced by Sparks. It brings us great joy to see our graduates and students making waves in the lighting and build environment industries, enjoy the read as much as we did.

Thibault Faÿ blends architectural expertise with specialist lighting design to create harmonious spaces that transform how we experience buildings.

From Paris to Johannesburg

Born in Paris but raised in other cities, Thibault Faÿ returned to the French capital only for his architectural studies at Ecole Spéciale d’Architecture (ESA). It was here that illumination engineering first captured his imagination.

“During my studies, I took illumination engineering lessons, which fascinated me,” explains Faÿ. “While practising architecture, I often felt curious about this science and the need to expand my knowledge of lighting to master it in my future projects.”

After completing his master’s degree, Faÿ worked at various architectural firms throughout France, gaining experience across a diverse portfolio of projects including residential buildings, offices, high-end resort hotels, urban design, interior design, and laboratories. Each project type presented unique lighting challenges, further fuelling his interest in specialised illumination solutions.

A significant career shift occurred when Faÿ relocated to South Africa over a decade ago to join an engineering and architecture firm. A chance attendance at a lighting design lecture in Johannesburg, presented by Philip Hammond from BHA School of Lighting, proved transformative.

“This sparked my interest, and I began following his webinars. Eventually, I enrolled in the BHA School of Lighting for an advanced illumination engineering diploma,” Faÿ recalls.

Faÿ recently graduated from the comprehensive two-year programme and now offers specialised lighting design services alongside his architectural practice.

The art of collaborative creation

When asked about his proudest career achievement, Faÿ emphasises his commitment to every project.

“I do not take pride in any single achievement, as I strive to dedicate the same level of commitment to every project I undertake,” he says. “I believe that architecture is a collaborative effort involving site constraints, the client’s vision, the architect’s concept, and the builder’s practicalities.”

Nevertheless, Faÿ describes a particularly noteworthy interior design project encompassing high-end hospitality, a wellness centre, offices, and a conference facility. This project allowed him to work with exquisite natural materials, including marble, granite, wood, and brass.

The lighting concept he developed demonstrated his integrated approach: indirect ambient lighting combined with direct task lighting and accent illumination for artworks and architectural features. Implemented throughout different buildings and controlled by an automation system, the design delivered exceptional flexibility for both lighting scenarios and occupants.

Guidance for the next generation

Drawing on his experience, Faÿ offers three key pieces of advice for young professionals entering the architecture and lighting design industries:

1. “Work diligently: Architecture and lighting design blend science with artistic expression. There is no single solution to a problem, so invest time in exploring various options to find the most suitable one for your project.”

2. “Be authentic: Discover your own motivation and channel it into something uniquely yours.”

3. “Continue exploring: Cultivate curiosity about past achievements, gain knowledge of iconic buildings, and stay informed about current trends and technologies.”

 

Vision for the future

Looking ahead, Faÿ envisions establishing a boutique architecture and lighting design practice with 5–10 employees. His ideal workplace would foster constructive debate and take on international projects, drawing inspiration from global cultural diversity.

“I enjoy engaging in debates on a variety of topics. I believe that conversing with diverse individuals enhances my understanding of the world and contributes to my personal growth,” he says. “I am fascinated by different cultures and the lifestyles of people from various regions.”

Faÿ concludes with a quote from pioneering lighting designer Richard Kelly (1910-1977):

“I can logically project a great many techniques in lighting to improve people’s lives or to make a house more beautiful, but it is all theory until we have the record of experience, which we are only beginning to write.”

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BHA Student Ahmed Hamdan Al Farsi to attend Lights in Alingsås

We’re proud to share that Ahmed Hamdan Al Farsi, one of our talented students, applied to attend the event in Sweden and was selected to join this year’s Lights in Alingsås workshop. We have every confidence that Ahmed will gain invaluable experience, push his creative boundaries, and contribute meaningfully to the event’s collaborative projects. Programs like this are a fantastic opportunity for young professionals to grow both personally and professionally. We wish Ahmed a safe and fantastic trip and can’t wait to hear his feedback and experiences after the event.

Information about Lights in Alingsås 2025 & this year’s theme “Movies in Lights”

Lights in Alingsås 2025 is back and brighter than ever. Organized by Alingsås Energi, this globally recognized lighting design festival turns the Swedish town of Alingsås into a brilliant showcase of creativity and innovation. From October 3 to November 2, 2025, visitors can experience a stunning trail of light installations designed by students and lighting professionals from around the world.

A highlight of the event is the week-long workshop, where a select group of students work side-by-side with internationally renowned lighting designers to create immersive light art experiences. This year’s theme, “Movies in Lights,” pays tribute to cinema and you can expect atmospheric scenes, emotional narratives, and a visually rich journey across a 2.5 km route through the town.

Core goals of the event include:

• Real-world practice in architectural and artistic lighting design
• Cross-cultural collaboration with global experts
• Exposure to innovative and sustainable lighting techniques
• Community engagement through creative storytelling

The event is free to attend, with guided tours available for a more in-depth experience. There’s also a mobile app with audio guides to enrich your visit.

Discover more and stay connected:

• Website: lightsinalingsas.se
• Facebook: Lights in Alingsås
• Instagram: @lightsinalingsas

We truly hope more of our students explore opportunities like Lights in Alingsås. Participating in international programs helps broaden their network, sharpen their skills, and open doors to future collaborations.

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Upcoming Enlightened Community Events

The growing role of controls & what it means for lighting professionals presented by Henk Rotman (CPD Activity)

BOOK YOUR PLACE at www.bhaschooloflighting.co.za/webinars

Cost: Free of Charge

Date: 24 July 2025

Time: 5:45pm for 6pm – 7pm CAT/CET

Presenter: Henk Rotman, Business Development Manager at Tridonic SA (Johannesburg, South Africa)

The July event is proudly sponsored by Tridonic. A world-leading provider of lighting technology for professional applications, including office buildings, and retail outlets, hotels and restaurants, the education industry and outdoor lighting sectors. To find out more about this BHA School of Lighting event sponsor visit www.tridonic.com.

About: This presentation by Henk Rotman, promises to be an enlightening session for professionals in the lighting industry. Henk will delve into the increasing importance of controls in modern lighting applications, shedding light on the reasons behind their growing adoption and the latest advancements in this field.

Henk will explore the evolving dynamics of the lighting market, where there is a clear distinction between “lighting experts” and the emerging group of “controls experts.” While both areas require specialized knowledge, the presentation will emphasize the critical need for lighting professionals to develop at least a foundational understanding of controls. This knowledge is essential for successfully integrating controls into lighting projects, ensuring seamless functionality and optimal performance.

Attendees can expect to gain valuable insights into the intersection of lighting and controls, including practical strategies for bridging the gap between these two domains. The session will also highlight how controls can enhance energy efficiency, improve user experience, and contribute to sustainable lighting solutions.

More about this event’s sponsor: Good light makes a difference. It can enhance well-being, it makes things safe, alerts us and guides us where we need to go.

But WHAT IF light could be more than just light? WHAT IF light was the backbone of intelligent buildings? With performance that’s tailored to the future? Or if it could be individually designed and implemented from start to finish. Innovative, customizable, optimizable, sustainable, and highly efficient. WHAT IF light could be an integrated, interconnected network?

Tridonic’s intelligent hardware and software creates new ways of using and experiencing light…Learn more at www.tridonic.com

 

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New Video Alert – Lighting for Tomorrow

On 26 July, the BHA School of Lighting Enlightened Community joined together for an enriching presentation by David Gilbey of d-lighting. David explored his view on a considered and responsible future of lighting. He also looked at the role of artificial intelligence in design and touches on a world of augmented reality, and also focused on the emotional, psychological and health benefits of good lighting.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to be enlightened here.

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Enter the Lux Futurum Recognition Programme

As the 2nd edition of LuFu begins, the programme, which is produced  by the Virtual Lighting Design Community & Zhu Rong Team, is looking forward to a heightened level of excitement from all our entrants who would like to enter their future-oriented concepts, products and projects. This year, it is expected to see even more innovative and visionary submissions that showcase the latest trends and advancements in lighting design. Whether you’re an established professional or an emerging talent, LuFu provides a unique platform to showcase your work, network with industry peers, gain international recognition and we encourage all our students and followers to find out more about the entry requirements at https://luxfuturum.com/en/page/submit or watch the video below to find out more.

The winners of LuFu will receive a prestigious award, global visibility, and access to exclusive networking opportunities. But more than that, they will be part of a community that is shaping the future of lighting design and contributing to a brighter, more sustainable world.

So, if you have a revolutionary lighting concept, product, or project that deserves global recognition, don’t hesitate to submit your entry to LuFu 2025. Join the ranks of the world’s most innovative and forward-thinking lighting professional, and be part of this journey that is illuminating the future of lighting!

Entries close on 30 September so be sure to submit your future orientated concepts, products and projects before it’s too late.

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Join a Professional Lighting Institution or Community

We encourage all of our Advanced Diploma in Illumination Engineering students to apply for student membership for little or no fees at local and international professional lighting institutions and lighting network communities. By becoming a member you will gain access to further study material, courses, workshops, webinars & stipends.

BHA School of Lighting is proud to be affiliated with the the International Association of Lighting Designers, the Institute of Lighting Professionals, the Virtual Lighting Design Community, The Lighting Police, Women in Lighting and the Illumination Engineering Society of South Africa.

Find more info about each organisation and community here.

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