I’m delighted to have been asked to provide the guest editorial for the September e-AA Newsletter.
In my contribution this month, I offer a personal perspective on fair assessment through the lens of technology, and in particular on the questions we should be asking about a fair and just future for digitised assessment.
As technological innovation continues to reshape our sector, questions around validity, reliability and fairness are becoming ever more important. What evidence about learners is it right to use? What processes are justified in obtaining it? And are there assessment practices we accept today that we may come to view very differently in years to come? Read the full article here
These are not questions that any one organisation, jurisdiction or assessment system can answer in isolation. They require discussion, challenge and learning across borders, which is one of the reasons I am also particularly honoured to be chairing the e-AA’s new International Working Group (IWG).
Launched at the Annual Conference in June and further developed at the Strategy Day in July, the IWG brings together colleagues from across education, professional certification and workplace learning to share practical experiences of technology-enabled assessment around the world.
Despite the very different contexts in which we work, many of the challenges are strikingly similar: digital transition, hybrid models, the growing use of AI, and, of course, the need to ensure that innovation continues to support fair, valid and trustworthy assessment.
The IWG is intended to create a practical forum in which we can learn from one another, compare how different jurisdictions are responding to these challenges, and bring operational experience into wider conversations about policy and the future of assessment.
With members already representing the UK, Canada, Australia, Central Asia, Denmark and Africa, the group has begun work on a number of projects, including an international scan of AI in assessment and research exploring the questions assessment practitioners should now be asking about technology.
It is an exciting initiative, and one that I hope will contribute to some of the wider questions raised in this month’s editorial: not simply what technology can enable us to do in assessment, but what we should do — and how we ensure fairness remains at the heart of the decisions we make.
Stuart Shaw | Chair of the International Working Group | Board Member | e-Assessment Association
eAA News
Secure Your Ticket for the 2026 Residential Event
We’re excited to have sAInaptic supporting AI in Assessment: From Theory to Practice this November.
sAInaptic provide AI-powered assessment intelligence for the evaluation, moderation and quality assurance of assessments. They support a wide range of assessment types and evidence, including written responses, essays, portfolios, images and video, helping awarding organisations improve efficiency and consistency while keeping human oversight at the heart of the process.
Join the e-Assessment Association for a practical, residential event exploring how artificial intelligence is changing assessment design, delivery, integrity, accessibility, and learner experience.
Across two days, delegates will hear from sector experts, explore live demonstrations, take part in practical workshops and discuss the real opportunities and risks that AI presents for assessment organisations.
Tickets are on sale now - secure your place and join us this November for two practical days of insight, discussion and hands-on exploration of AI in assessment.
Be first in line for the International e-Assessment Awards 2027
The International e-Assessment Awards are returning in 2027 and this year, we’re inviting entrants and judges to get involved early. Join our priority list to be among the first to hear about categories, key dates and opportunities to take part, as well as receive early updates before the Awards officially open. You’ll also have the chance to help shape the 2027 Awards by telling us what you’d like to see from this year’s programme.
Join one of the eAA's Special Interest Groups (SIGs) to explore the developments shaping digital assessment today. Free and open to all, SIGs offer expert insights, practical discussion, and access to webinars, resources and a global network of peers.
Integrating ODL, LMS, and Secure Assessment into One Seamless Ecosystem
As institutions embrace digital transformation, integrating learning, assessment, and student information systems has become essential. Discover how a leading distance learning institution modernized its education ecosystem through a unified ODL, LMS, SIS, and AI-powered remote assessment platform; delivering secure, scalable, and learner-centric experiences while significantly improving operational efficiency
Built to Last: 20 Years of Zero-Defect Engineering and What It Means for You
Excelsoft has spent two decades as the engineering team behind one of the world’s largest education publishers — running 12+ platforms at once, from assessment tools to course delivery. Here’s what that partnership taught us.
PISA 2025: Delivering Secure Digital Assessment at Global Scale with TAO
What does it take to deliver one of the world’s largest international assessments digitally? The PISA 2025 case study goes behind the scenes of a programme spanning 91 countries and economies, 54 languages and more than 900,000 assessment sessions, revealing what digital assessment at this scale really involves.
Oxford University Press are committed to ensuring that we continue to meet the needs of institutions like yours in a changing English Language Assessment landscape.
To help us achieve this, we invite you to complete a short research survey. Your feedback will help to ensure we continue to provide information and resources that are relevant, useful, and aligned with your institutional needs.
ISO/IEC 17024:2026: What the New Standard Means for Certification Bodies
ISO/IEC 17024 has had its first revision since 2012, and it is the first conformity assessment standard in the ISO/IEC 17000 family to address AI directly. Here is what changed, and when. By Martin Melconian, Founder and CEO of Globebyte.
Assessment Frameworks: Your Guide to Fair and Reliable Assessments
Most jurisdictions and testing organizations utilize framework documents, while others may not. Among those that do, there is a wide range of content included, often presented in various formats. An assessment framework is a foundational document that identifies the guidelines, procedures and tools that will be used to guide assessment development, administration, marking/scoring, data analysis and reporting of results. The document outlines how the assessment will be conducted, focusing on what should be assessed and how by DrRichard Jones Founder of RMJ AssessmentandVretta Inc.
Introducing TEAMCo's Expanding Fixed Test Centre Network
As assessment delivery continues to evolve, awarding organisations and universities need venues that are secure, scalable and designed around both operational excellence and candidate experience.
Whether you're planning 80 candidates or 800, finding the right assessment environment has never been more important. Our centres have been designed to provide awarding organisations and universities with reliable, scalable and secure assessment environments while ensuring candidates enjoy a positive testing experience.
Beyond the Mark: What Can AI Reveal About Student Understanding?
The evolution of digital assessment has created new possibilities for marking and feedback, with AI presenting real opportunities beyond faster marking. Speedwell Software Discover how institutions are using AI to uncover new insights and support better learning, while keeping human judgement central.
Open Standards and AI in Handwritten Essay Assessment
Trifork has partnered with the Institut für Bildungsevaluation (IBE) to develop Handwritten Essay Assessment with AI, bringing AI scoring and feedback to essays written by hand. Schools gain both the educational benefits of handwriting and the speed and consistency of automated assessment.
Firequal modernises learner assessments with new Surpass partnership
FireQual, the awarding organisation for the UK fire safety sector, has taken a significant step forward in the delivery of its regulated qualifications by partnering with Surpass Assessment as its digital assessment provider. Following a successful implementation in June 2026, FireQual is now delivering live examinations across the country through Surpass.
The flagship event for qualifications and assessment professionals will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Milton Keynes on 26 and 27 of November this year.
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