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University of Basel

Assessments and Examinations at the University of Basel

Quality criteria for assessments and examinations at the University of Basel

1. Students are aware of the expectations and requirements for the respective assessment.

 

2. Students have the opportunity to clarify these expectations and requirements prior to the assessment so that they can structure their learning accordingly.

3. The learning activities preceding the assessment gives students the opportunity to self-assess and therefore evaluate their own skills and knowledge with regard to the requirements and expectations for the respective assessment.

 

4. The assessment itself provides students with information on their own performance in relation to the performance targets.

5. The instruction and the assessment are closely linked.

6. The assessment is functional, fair and objective. It is designed such that factors unrelated to candidates’ learning and skills cannot affect candidate performance.

7. The assessment is designed to provide an appropriate means of evaluating the distribution of knowledge and skills among the students.

These quality criteria for assessments and examinations apply at the University of Basel as of 2021. The seven quality criteria are based on internationally recognized quality standards and are designed to account for the context and the teaching and assessment practices at the University of Basel.
The quality criteria were formulated based on hearings with 150 teaching staff and students from all faculties. Following discussion with the Deans of Studies (“Plattform Studiendekane”), the President’s Office approved the quality criteria as the basis for evaluating assessments and examinations in June 2021.

 

Quality assurance for assessments and examinations – provisions for universities and higher education institutions in Switzerland

The government’s Higher Education Act (HEdA) requires that higher education institutions set criteria and implement tools that enable them to ensure and develop the quality of assessments and examinations.

“The quality assurance system shall ensure compliance with the criteria for admission, for the assessment of the student performance and for issuing final diplomas according to the mission of the higher education institution or other institution within the higher education sector. These criteria shall be defined, communicated and applied systematically, transparently and consistently.” (Quality standards for institutional accreditation, Area 3 Teaching, research and services, standard 3.4)

 

Quality assurance for assessments and examinations within faculties

Standards for evaluating assessments and examinations

The process of quality assurance for evaluating assessments and examinations at the University of Basel was approved by the Teaching Committee (“Kommission Lehre”) on 28 April, by the Deans of Studies (“Plattform Studiendekane”) on 9 June 2021 and by the President’s Office on 22 June 2021. It is recorded in the document "Standards für die Evaluation von Leistungsüberprüfungen".

Evaluation of assessments and examinations – pilot projects within faculties

The Office of Educational Development helps the faculties develop tools and faculty-specific standards for evaluating assessments and examinations. Pilot projects designed for this purpose have been in progress since fall semester 2020.

Teaching Exchange Meetings ("Standortgespräch Lehre")

Once a year, every faculty discusses the quality of its assessments and examinations with the President’s Office as part of a Teaching Exchange Meeting. This discussion is based on the key figures or survey results on the quality of assessments and examinations, which are analyzed by the subject area committees responsible for teaching (teaching committees, curriculum committees and examination committees) for the respective Office of the Dean of Studies.

The Office of Educational Development provides a template for subject areas and faculties, along with a guide to interpreting key figures. On request, the team also advises the subject areas on interpreting key figures and advises teaching staff on interpreting the evaluation results and developing their assessments and examinations.

 

Support for teaching staff and subject areas

For teaching staff from all faculties:
  • Support in designing and developing their own assessments and examinations
  • Evaluation of their own assessments and examinations for both young academics and experienced teaching staff
For faculties and subject areas:

Support for faculties, degree programs and subject areas in developing and evaluating

  • individual assessments and examinations
  • multiple assessments and examinations within a particular curriculum
Advanced training courses for teaching staff and further materials:

Further information, materials and learning and teaching workshops on the topic of assessments and examinations are available in the Knowledge Hub under "Lernleistungen beurteilen" (on the intranet – VPN required, in German only).

 

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