Is assessment keeping pace with Scotland’s changing learners?
As Scotland’s learner population becomes increasinly diverse with recognition that everyone learns differently, are traditional approaches to assessment keeping pace with the needs of today’s students?
That question will be at the heart of a national event bringing together senior education leaders, policy influencers, students and researchers at Glasgow City Chambers on 7 October.
The event will share emerging insights from Transforming Assessment Policy & Practice Scotland (TAPPS) – a collaborative project exploring how assessment policy and practice can evolve to create more inclusive, meaningful and effective experiences for learners across Scotland’s colleges and universities.
Led by Edinburgh Napier University and City of Glasgow College, TAPPS has brought together evidence, policy insight and examples of innovative assessment practice from across the tertiary sector.
The project is examining how approaches to assessment can better recognise the increasingly diverse needs and experiences of learners, while supporting attainment, progression and positive outcomes. It is also exploring how institutional and national policy can enable innovation.
Hosted at Glasgow City Chambers and opened by the Lord Provost of Glasgow, the event will feature a keynote address from Dr Juuso Nieminen, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning (CRADLE), Deakin University.
An internationally recognised researcher in inclusive assessment, Dr Nieminen’s work explores the relationship between assessment, inclusion, student agency and identity, challenging educators to consider whether established approaches to assessment work equally well for all learners.
Delegates will have an opportunity to hear the latest findings from TAPPS, explore innovative approaches already being put into practice across Scotland and contribute their own perspectives on how assessment policy and practice should develop.
The event will also ask a bigger question: what needs to change if Scotland is to develop an assessment system capable of meeting the needs of an increasingly diverse learner population?
Senior leaders, policy influencers, students and colleagues with responsibility for learning, teaching, assessment and quality across Scotland’s tertiary sector are invited to join the conversation.
Transforming Assessment Policy & Practice Scotland (TAPPS)
7 October 2026 | Glasgow City Chambers