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A co-design approach to enhance the student and staff experienceÌý

The University has launched a major strategic project, Advancing Assessment, to promote new ideas in assessment thinking and practice across the University. Our core belief is that assessment is integral to teaching and learning, and it must be well designed. Inclusive and accessible assessment is a fundamental principle, not an afterthought.Ìý

Over the next five years, this project aims to support the development of effective and engaging assessment and feedback methods that maximise meaningful student learning experiences.Ìý

Advancing Assessment is structured around six workstreams that take a holistic approach to assessment. These workstreams focus on analysing current practices, professional development, new regulatory frameworks, and digital assessment.ÌýÌý

The project is also underpinned and guided by a core set of principles:

• Assessment is accessibleÌý
• Assessment is inclusiveÌý
• Students actively participate in the assessment design process and enhancement of assessment practiceÌý
• All assessment and feedback is conceived across the programmeÌý
• Formative work is valuable and valuedÌý
• Assessment is developmentalÌý
• Feedback promotes learningÌý
• Assessment is varied, interesting, kind, compassionate and fun
• Assessment is proportionateÌý
• A contemporary approach to supporting the design, delivery and administration of assessment is adopted
• Assessment purpose is communicated effectively Ìý
• Assessment is trustedÌý
• Assessment practice is sustainable and embedded in the wider strategyÌý

These principles articulate the vision of Advancing Assessment, providing a clear and consistent framework to guide our activities and promote advances in assessment. Another core element of the project is working in partnership and co-design with students as this is crucial to the success of Advancing Assessment. Opportunities for student engagement are integrated throughout, ensuring that their voice is central to our efforts.Ìý

The Assessment Consultancy

To support the student co-design and Advancing Assessment Principles a new dedicated team, the Assessment Consultancy, has been established within the Centre for Higher Education Practice (CHEP) as part of the project. The team is comprised of academic experts in a range of assessment and feedback design practices and Advancing Assessment Student Interns.

The Assessment Consultancy offers colleagues the opportunity to focus on multiple aspects of assessment, and feedback literacies, enhancing both the student and staff experience.Ìý This includes supporting academics and programme teams around:Ìý

• Working in co-design with students through the evidence informed Southampton Transformative Assessment Re-design with Students (STARS) programÌýÌý
• Visualising the structure and journey of assessmentsÌý
• Programme Level workshops around assessment and feedbackÌý
• CPD workshops on core themesÌý
• Providing 1:1 Assessment Consultancy Hub drop insÌý
• Future scoping assessment and feedback practices and developing resources for programme team in these areas, such as programme level assessmentÌý
• Sharing good practices and developing communities of practiceÌý

"Assessment and feedback directly shape how students learn. When academic colleagues are well-supported, they’re better able to design assessment that encourages critical thinking, creativity, and deeper engagement—not just the reproduction of content. From the initial design of the project to seeing the Assessment Consultancy come together and have impact in such a short time has been enormously rewarding. We are working effectively with our students and other teams to co-design and implement a modern digital assessment environment and new models of quality assurance that can enable staff to try out new ideas and cut down on inefficient practices. - Professor Simon WalkerÌý

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Noor Alsaleh, BSc Chemical Engineering (Intern)

"I'm passionate about using my skills to make a meaningful impact, and I'm excited about the opportunity to join the CHEP internship team. This role will allow me to apply my data analysis skills while also gaining practical experience."

Academic Staff, TILT workshopÌý

"[I realised] the value of explaining things to students as to why we do things. These explanations have been in my head the whole time, but I’ve never really fully divulged it to them!."

Professor Simon Cox

"Thank you for running the excellent ABC Workshop for Aeronautics and Astronautics (the first one at Southampton!). Chatting to colleagues afterwards, it was productive and certainly helped us move on with our thinking in several assessment and teaching areas. It has helped us develop the coherency of the programme, as well as continue to improve the experience for a growing diversity of students."

Our Assessment Consultancy Team (click on name to access University profile)

Mrs Claire Hughes

Assessment Consultancy Lead, Principal Teaching

University Profile/PureÌý>

Dr Amy Wallington

Senior Teaching Fellow

University Profile/Pure >Ìý

Dr Suzanne Albary

Senior Teaching Fellow

University Profile/Pure >Ìý

Dr Declan Doyle

Senior Teaching Fellow

University Profile/Pure >

Dr Louise Squire

Senior Teaching Fellow

Amy Harrison

Senior Teaching Fellow

Our new toolkitsÌý

Want to know more?

To learn more about the project, contact the team at AdvancingAssessment@soton.ac.uk Ìý