Trends in assessment in higher education: considerations for policy and practice

We have collaborated with Professor Simon Walker from the University of Southampton to explore emerging trends in assessment and feedback within the rapidly evolving landscape of higher education. This report sheds light on the challenges, opportunities, and innovative approaches shaping the future of assessment practices, particularly in the context of digital transformation and the integration of generative AI technologies.

As part of this initiative, insights were gathered from our assessment and feedback working group and key stakeholders across the sector. This work aims to provide valuable recommendations for policy and practice, supporting institutions in creating effective, inclusive, and innovative assessment strategies.

Identified trends

Redesign

An appetite for redesigning assessment, including at the programme and part-programme level, which also includes blending assessment by balancing in-person with online assessment. This also includes co-design with students.

Digital tools and submission

Re-evaluation of the place of in-person invigilated exams as well as increasing adoption of digital assessment tools and digital submission at scale.

AI and assessment

Accelerated adoption of forms of assessment and accompanying guidelines to mitigate against or embrace genAI. This includes capstone assessment, oral and investigatory vivas and portfolio and process-focused assessments.

Meaningful and compassionate

Growing interest in designing meaningful and compassionate assessment, including student choice in assessment. Offering assessment optionality and assessment that aligns with real-world contexts is seen as central to maintaining relevance and engagement.

Key findings

Three main trends appear to drive innovation and change:

1. the shift away from modular assessment towards more programme-focused assessment design
2. the need to rethink assessment design within the context of generative AI; and
3. the desire to involve students in assessment co-design

In the current higher education landscape HE providers face the challenge of enhancing assessment practices in the context of decreasing resource. Our recommendations aim to address these key trends in assessment. They are:

1. Develop a framework for programme-level assessment implementation
2. Enhance digital infrastructure for programme-level assessment
3. Identify and embed innovative assessment methods
4. Promote and resource student-staff partnership in assessment design

This report provides actionable recommendations for navigating the trends outlined above, including frameworks for programme-level assessments, enhancing digital infrastructure, and fostering collaborative approaches to assessment design.