The rapidly changing workplace has rightly led universities to reconsider how they teach and what they teach, but it is equally essential that we look again at how we assess our students.
Examinations, once an essential part of degree programmes, can be a useful mechanism for assessing information retention, but are they an effective way to drive learning and develop the transferable skills required for the workplaces of today and tomorrow?
The limitations of traditional exams are well recognised. Nevertheless, they remain an integral part of many university assessments. At worst, students find themselves caught in a relentless cycle of cramming information into their heads before the exam, only to forget most of it once the test is over. It is as though we are assessing only their ability to commit information to memory.
This type of assessment stands in stark contrast to the flexibility and adaptability required to thrive in the real world. What good is knowledge if you cannot apply it to real-life situations? Exams fail to adequately prepare students for the challenges they will face beyond the classroom walls.
At Zayed University we have scrapped exams entirely because we do not believe they are the best way to drive and encourage learning or prepare graduates to meet the demands of the modern workplace. Instead, we need assessment methods that encourage students to actively participate and engage in their classes throughout the academic year, and that evaluate them on a continuous basis.
By fostering a culture of continuous assessment for learning (rather than assessment of learning at the end of the semester), students can remain focused and invested in their learning journey. Structuring our courses to provide regular assessment before, during and after class encourages students to take responsibility for their own learning and enables tutors to provide regular feedback. This approach promotes continuous improvement rather than relying on a last-minute, end-of-semester cramming session. When students interact intentionally with their course material on an ongoing basis, they are more likely to develop deeper understanding.
Continuous assessment provides a more accurate representation of a student's progress and capabilities. It allows educators to track growth over time, identifying areas that may need additional attention and tailoring instructions accordingly. By integrating real-world cases and practical applications of knowledge into assessments, students can showcase their understanding beyond rote memorisation and demonstrate their ability to apply concepts outside the lecture hall.
By emphasising practical applications and problem solving, we can create assessments that require students to think critically and demonstrate their understanding
The rise of generative AI and tools like ChatGPT are also increasingly making the traditional focus on essays and memorisation less effective. Students now have access to resources that make it easier to plagiarise. The potential of these technologies to revolutionise the workplace can only be imagined. The answer cannot be a wholesale ban on their use. Instead, we must redesign our assessment to make the best possible use these emerging technologies.
By emphasising practical applications and problem solving, we can create assessments that require students to think critically and demonstrate their understanding. This not only mitigates the impact of AI-driven cheating but also prepares students for the challenges they will encounter in their professional lives, where the ability to apply knowledge in practical ways is highly valued.
The new types of assessment we are embracing involve us using an online learning platform in conjunction with well-designed plans to foster student participation. During our classes, students are tested using various interactive tools such as polls and breakout sessions, as well as focused activities like concept mapping and debates. This is coupled with asking students to prepare more presentations, which they must deliver in the classroom and a greater focus on group projects, which encourage teamwork. Additionally, our platform enables the faculty to use analytics to monitor class participation: if a student hasn’t spoken for some time, then our faculty will know exactly who to call upon for the next question.
Another successful approach we are rolling out at Zayed University is the introduction of Partner Challenges. This programme enables students to work closely with industry mentors on well-structured workplace projects that have clearly defined objectives. This is because students have a great deal to learn from non-academic voices also. We have successfully partnered with almost 100 organisations including Accenture, CNBC, Cisco and the Department of Culture and Tourism.
Taken together, these new approaches to assessment enable a more holistic and tailored educational experience that fosters deeper learning.
Martin Luther King Jr said: "The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education." Do we believe that traditional examinations and a focus on periodic assessment are the best way to achieve this?
True education will be instilled only when universities embrace a forward-thinking approach to assessment, acknowledging the skills and competencies vital for success in today's dynamic and interconnected society. This calls for a paradigm shift in our assessment strategies, moving beyond traditional examinations and summative learning, towards a student-centred approach that encourages continuous learning and feedback, while embracing innovative approaches that reflect the demands of the digital age.
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Newcastle United 1 (Carroll 82')
Leicester City 2 (Maddison 55', Tielemans 72')
Man of the match James Maddison (Leicester)
The specs: 2019 Mini Cooper
Price, base: Dh141,740 (three-door) / Dh165,900 (five-door)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder (Cooper) / 2.0-litre four-cylinder (Cooper S)
Power: 136hp @ 4,500rpm (Cooper) / 192hp @ 5,000rpm (Cooper S)
Torque: 220Nm @ 1,480rpm (Cooper) / 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (Cooper S)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 4.8L to 5.4L / 100km
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About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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More on animal trafficking
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
SHAITTAN
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How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 420 bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: from Dh293,200
On sale: now
The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
If you go
The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
THE%20SPECS
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Have you been targeted?
Tuan Phan of SimplyFI.org lists five signs you have been mis-sold to:
1. Your pension fund has been placed inside an offshore insurance wrapper with a hefty upfront commission.
2. The money has been transferred into a structured note. These products have high upfront, recurring commission and should never be in a pension account.
3. You have also been sold investment funds with an upfront initial charge of around 5 per cent. ETFs, for example, have no upfront charges.
4. The adviser charges a 1 per cent charge for managing your assets. They are being paid for doing nothing. They have already claimed massive amounts in hidden upfront commission.
5. Total annual management cost for your pension account is 2 per cent or more, including platform, underlying fund and advice charges.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
THE BIO
BIO:
Born in RAK on December 9, 1983
Lives in Abu Dhabi with her family
She graduated from Emirates University in 2007 with a BA in architectural engineering
Her motto in life is her grandmother’s saying “That who created you will not have you get lost”
Her ambition is to spread UAE’s culture of love and acceptance through serving coffee, the country’s traditional coffee in particular.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Poacher
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RESULT
West Brom 2 Liverpool 2
West Brom: Livermore (79'), Rondón (88' )
Liverpool: Ings (4'), Salah (72')
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RACE CARD
4pm Al Bastakiya – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
4.35pm Dubai City Of Gold – Group 2 (TB) $228,000 (Turf) 2,410m
5.10pm Mahab Al Shimaal – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,200m
5.45pm Burj Nahaar – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m
6.20pm Jebel Hatta – Group 1 (TB) $260,000 (T) 1,800m
6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (TB) $390,000 (D) 2,000m
7.30pm Nad Al Sheba – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (T) 1,200m
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
