QAA publish new advice on online assessment

QAA has published new advice on online invigilation and other solutions for ensuring good academic conduct in online assessment. The advice, available for QAA Members on our Membership Resources Site, is intended to help providers consider whether to adopt online assessment security solutions for their assessments on a longer-term basis, following the swift move to online assessment at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Exploring the benefits and risks of online security should help providers:

• make more informed decisions
• engage and consult students appropriately
• address equality, diversity and inclusion, privacy and data issues
• consider ethical risks, and
• implement the necessary student and staff support.

The advice aims to help QAA Members consider whether certain security approaches are needed or suitable for their specific circumstances, and whether they will serve the interests of their students and not harm or discriminate against them. It outlines five guiding principles for digital assessment and the various approaches used for online invigilation and how they work in practice.

The paper, which has been shaped in collaboration with higher education sector experts and students, also provides guidance on how to support student wellbeing, consider ethical dimensions, the data and legal requirements, the cost implications and PSRB requirements.

QAA Members can sign up to use the Membership Resources Site by completing our simple registration form.

Further information about QAA Membership, which provides access to this advice along with a broad range of other benefits, is on our website.

QAA’s other support and guidance to the sector in response to the COVID-19 pandemic can be found in the COVID-19 Support and Guidance section of our website.