University assessment and quality assurance

Strategies to improve university assessment for students and educators. Here, academics offer guidance on assessment design, covering formative, summative and diagnostic approaches, authentic assessment and how to give useful feedback. You will also find advice on exam preparation, ungrading, managing GenAI, preventing cheating and upholding academic integrity.

By miranda.prynne, 28 January, 2026

How to turn your most aggravating student emails into a chance to spread joy

Young man looking stressed as his inbox explodes out of his screen

Faced with a flurry of grade complaints at the end of each semester, Danny Oppenheimer found a way to respond that generated positivity for students and himself. Read on to find out what he did

By Laura.Duckett, 28 January, 2026

How to make higher education assessments inclusive

When we design assessment with transparency, cultural awareness and inclusivity in mind, it becomes a tool for supporting learning rather than measuring it, writes Patrice Seuwou and explains how

Reading time

5minutes

By Laura.Duckett, 23 January, 2026

Use the five stages of grief to guide academic staff through AI adoption

As generative AI reshapes teaching and assessment, resistance is often as emotional as it is pedagogical. Drawing on Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’ framework, Michael Mehmet and Rushana Khusainova offer advice for supporting staff through the realities of AI adoption

Reading time

4minutes

By Laura.Duckett, 20 January, 2026

When GenAI makes answers cheap, assessment must value judgement

A male student working on his laptop in the library

Generative AI has not broken assessment; it has exposed its weaknesses. Moving beyond bans and blind adoption requires redesigning assessment to reclaim pedagogical agency and make student judgement visible

By kiera.obrien, 19 January, 2026

Why trauma-informed education could be a university’s smartest investment

Responding to struggling students with empathy and flexibility can benefit the whole campus. Here’s how to create a culture of compassion

Reading time

5minutes

By kiera.obrien, 16 January, 2026

Maximise student satisfaction in creative education: part one

A teacher smiles as students raise their hands en masse

Disappointed with your National Student Survey satisfaction results? One teaching team turned theirs around with reflection and collaboration – here’s how

Reading time

5minutes

By kiera.obrien, 7 January, 2026

Entrustment-based supervision and assessment: a how-to guide

Two physiotheraphy students work with a patient

Implementing entrustable professional activities into assessment can help transit students to entry-level practice. Here’s how it was done in a physiotherapy course

Reading time

6minutes

By Eliza.Compton, 5 January, 2026

‘Students don’t have to prove authorship of every word, they show their supervision of AI tools’

Female Asian college student writing in library on a laptop

When all students are required to use generative AI for every assignment, their practice can be more rigorous, transparent and deeply reflective. Here, Tiatemsu Longkumer explains a rubric

By Eliza.Compton, 2 January, 2026

Storytelling in STEM: connecting concepts, confidence and identity

Designing STEM classrooms that encourage students to reflect on their progress and share their stories takes intention, but the pay-off is enormous: more engaged, capable and confident learners

Reading time

4minutes

By kiera.obrien, 19 December, 2025

Three ways to turn students into active partners in their education

Create a supportive learning community with student co-creation. Here are three ways to help students take the reins

Reading time

3minutes

University assessment and quality assurance