At the launch of the Centre for Quality Promotion and Assurance’s (CQPA’s) Assuring the Integrity of Assessment Practices project in November 2023 the intentions and processes of this Big Rocks project were clearly explained. The conceptual framework that underpins and guides this project is the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) ENVISION2030 which drives the CQPA’s activities to support and encourage the development of entrepreneurial, innovative and adaptive graduates.
During Semester one, the project team had engaged in a number of activities designed to collect assessment-related data from both internal and external stakeholders. These efforts have included several focus group discussions with students, academic staff, the CQPA and academic development and support staff. In addition, academic staff members and students have completed online surveys to provide further insight into assessment-related issues and good practices.
Further to this, there have been several interactions with the external stakeholder (employers, WIL providers, Advisory Board members and external examiners and moderators) to better understand their perceptions of DUT student and graduate quality. The interactions have included focus group discussions and the completion of online surveys.
Our intentions have been to identify the ways that DUT assessments contribute to the quality and employability of our WIL students and graduates.
While the data has not yet been fully analysed, there are common themes already emerging. One of these is the identified need for student experiential learning particularly for those students in programmes without WIL, e.g., student exposure to workplaces, interactions with employed staff, guest lecturers, workplace observation, etc. An important matter raised by employers and WIL providers is that many WIL students and graduates lack confidence and have weak professional skills, including communication, punctuality, appropriate workplace attire, understanding hierarchy and ways to work within teams, etc.
It is anticipated that the findings regarding the quality of current DUT assessment practices will be released for discussion in 3rd term, with opportunities for staff to make recommendations to resolve assessment-related issues and to identify how the University can celebrate and share good practices. The findings of this phase of the project will include recommendations to facilitate changes to the institutional, faculty and departmental assessment culture and practices, identifying capacity-development opportunities for staff and students to foster their commitment to and preparedness for change.
Our thanks to DUT academic staff and students, and to our valued external stakeholders for their willing engagements with the project team.
Pictured: The DUT academic staff and students with the CQPA project team.
Dr Paulette Powell
Project Manager: Assuring the Integrity of Assessment Practices project
CQPA
