Queen’s University Belfast - Re-conceiving assessment – a foundation for change - Strategic Excellence Initiative

What is the project?

The Strategic Excellence Initiative (SEI) is supporting development work in Phase 1 of a three year project with the aim of ensuring the assessment at Queen’s provides more opportunities for students to demonstrate achievement in relation to higher level skills and graduate attributes.

Phase 1 of the project will establish the framework around which significant changes in student assessment will need to be developed. By Phase 3 (2017), this will include the removal of examinations at the end of semester one, and greater emphasis on formative assessment.

What the project plans to achieve?

At the end of Phase 1, we will view the project as a success if:

• New assessment models to replace summative January examination have been identified and agreed
• Staff have confidence and are competent with developing innovative assessment methods that demand high standards of learning, and enable students to demonstrate that they have achieved programme learning outcomes   
• Examples of synoptic assessment which enable students to demonstrate their ability to integrate and apply their skills, knowledge and understanding with breadth and depth in the subject have been developed
• The student body is engaged with the initiative and have informed the development of support materials and guidance in relation to the new assessment methods
• A clear understanding of the infrastructure requirements have been agreed with an associated implementation plan
• All regulatory changes have been identified and approved
• The University Executive Board is satisfied with progress and has endorsed completion of Phase 1.