Announcing a new e-AA Initiative: An International Working Group

Launched on the first day of the e-AA Annual Conference in June of this year, then unpacked and endorsed by Directors at the Strategy Day in July, the e-AA International Working Group (IWG) will seek to bring together those involved in assessment design, delivery, policy, and innovation from the world of education, professional certification and workplace learning to explore how digital assessment is advancing across a range of differing, disparate jurisdictions, and examination systems. Working Group members will identify and nurture a professional space in which to share practical experiences, discuss national opportunities and challenges, and learn from peers working in similar (perhaps dissimilar) contexts. 

Notwithstanding certain contextual disparities, the challenges for jurisdictions around the world are very similar (e.g. digital transition, hybrid models, AI use). However, they are often worked through in isolation as there is no immediate, simple way for these jurisdictions to see how others are actually delivering assessment in practice. Often, insights garnered from transnational description/comparisons are either too high-level (policy, theory), or too local (within one system or country). Although national and international conferences allow for sharing, it is invariably at a relatively high-level, at somewhat high cost to participants (time and money), and can tend to attract delegates who are often at a policy and not operational level.

The IWG has the potential to afford opportunities to provide a practical mechanism to surface and share real examples across continents, countries, and regions. Whilst e-assessment tools and providers already operate internationally, practice and knowledge often stay siloed within regions. The IWG should increase both the e-AA relevance and international reach as well as strengthening the e-AA’s credibility as an Association with a genuine international voice in assessment rather than just an organisation with international members. The IWG will give the e-AA a forum to exchange practical experiences and help position the Association as a truly global voice in technology‑enabled assessment.

Specific Responsibilities of the International Working Group will include:

• International knowledge sharing
• Regional insight and representation
• Practice–policy linkage
• Operational realism
• Data and evidence‑based use
• Comparative outputs
• Network building
• Communities of practice
• Accessible global engagement

The current IWG membership comprises: 

•   Stuart Shaw – Chair (University College London - UK) 
•   Jennifer Hove – Vice Chair (Education Quality and Accountability Office - Ontario, Canada)
•   Melanie Atkin (New Data Solutions Pty Ltd. - Victoria, Australia)
•   Kristin McKinlay (British Council – UK)
•   Vali Huseyn (Vretta Inc. - Central Asia). 
•   Sofie Emmertsen (Enterprise Capabilities - Denmark, Inspera)
•   Erica Hepburn (Prometric - Africa)

Current research projects (outcomes to be presented at the 2027 annual e-AA conference) include:

• AI in Assessment: International Scan
• Purpose: A rapid survey of how IWG jurisdictions are approaching AI use in assessment - policy, tools, and concerns.
• Expected Outcome(s): Members should gain a shared understanding of AI landscape; positions e-AA as an informed international voice.
• Are We Asking the Right Questions? International Perspectives on Technology and Assessment
• Purpose: Gather perspectives from IWG jurisdictions on which questions assessment practitioners should now be asking about technology - moving beyond process improvement to fundamental purpose.
• Expected Outcome(s): e-AA positioned as a forum for critical international thinking on assessment's future; IWG contribution distinctive and intellectually substantive.

Throughout its work and endeavours, the IWG will also contribute on an ongoing basis to the creation of an e-AA online library of real projects that use technology to deliver assessment. Members would be able to share projects, search for examples and learn from what others have done. This would replace the idea of a one-off international report with a service that stays useful because people can keep adding and updating information. 

It is believed that the e-AA as an organisation (and the industry as a whole), will benefit from the creation of a clear forum offered by the IWG focused on international cooperation and sharing learning across borders and regions. Understanding the opportunities for, and barriers to, digital assessment in international contexts will be key to driving equal access to education as a whole, and assessments specifically.