Developing a digital application for quality assurance of assessment programmes in higher education

• Published in: Quality assurance in education Vol. 31; no. 2; pp. 346 - 366
• Main Authors: Schellekens, Lonneke H., van der Schaaf, Marieke F., van der Vleuten, Cees P.M., Prins, Frans J., Wools, Saskia, Bok, Harold G.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford Emerald Publishing Limited 28-02-2023; Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subjects: Accountability; Annual reports; Computer Oriented Programs; Curricula; Design Requirements; Educational Quality; Examiners; Higher education; Job Performance; Learning; Learning Processes; Methods Research; Needs Assessment; Quality Assurance; Quality control; Research Design; Self evaluation; Self Evaluation (Individuals); Stakeholders; Student Certification; Teaching Methods; Transparency; Validated Programs; Ensuring assessment quality; Assessment programme; Higher education; Quality assurance application; Improving assessment quality
• ISSN: 0968-4883; 1758-7662; 0968-4883
• DOI: 10.1108/QAE-03-2022-0066

Purpose
This study aims to report the design, development and evaluation of a digital quality assurance application aimed at improving and ensuring the quality of assessment programmes in higher education.
Design/methodology/approach
The application was developed using a design-based research (DBR) methodology. The application’s design was informed by a literature search and needs assessment of quality assurance stakeholders to ensure compliance with daily practices and accreditation requirements. Stakeholders from three study programmes evaluated the application.
Findings
As part of the development of the application, module- and programme-level dashboards were created to provide an overview of the programme’s outcomes, assessment methods, assessment metrics, self-evaluated quality indicators and assessment documents. The application was evaluated by stakeholders at the module and programme levels. Overall, the results indicated that the dashboards aided them in gaining insight into the assessment programme and its alignment with underlying assessments.
Practical implications
Visualisation of the assessment programme’s structure and content identifies gaps and opportunities for improvement, which can be used to initiate a dialogue and further actions to improve assessment quality.
Originality/value
The application developed facilitates a cyclical and transparent assessment quality assurance procedure that is continuously available to various stakeholders in quality assurance.