Update from the Chair of the e-Assessment Association on the 2020 Conference & Awards

Update from Matt Wingfield, Chair of the e-Assessment Association – 9th April 2020

The e-Assessment Question Conference and e-Assessment Awards

Further to my update on the 20th March confirming that we will not be holding the e-Assessment Question Conference or the e-Assessment Awards Ceremony as physical events due to the on-going situation with Coronavirus (Covid-19), I wanted to provide with a further update on our plans for these two events.

Our planning for delivering these events in another format have been progressing well and it is our intention to hold two separate online events:

• A virtual conference to be run over a number of days, with flexible ticketing options to attend one or more sessions, so as to fit more easily around other delegate and speaker commitments; and
• An online, free to attend e-Assessment Awards ceremony, where we will announce the winners of each of the seven categories.

The online conference will draw on a selection of the same high-quality presentations that were due to be delivered at the physical conference. These will be recorded and made available to delegates registered to attend each of the applicable presentation sessions.

Whilst dates for both events have yet to be agreed, I can confirm that it is unlikely that either event will take place until June this year at the earliest. We feel that under the current circumstances, trying to hold the events sooner than this would be problematic for delegates given the other commitments, both personally and professionally, that are vying for time at the moment. We hope to be in a position to confirm the actual dates for both events and offer new delegate tickets for sale by the end of April.

Delegates who are already registered for the e-Assessment Question Conference will be able to attend the online, virtual conference at no extra cost, and will also receive a partial refund on their original ticket.

We are delighted to announce the shortlisting and final judging of the e-Assessment Awards is now complete for all seven categories. I wanted to take this opportunity to extend a special note of thanks to all of the finalists and judges for making time to facilitate the judging process, despite the challenges of the current crisis.

My thanks also to all of our existing conference delegates, speakers, sponsors and exhibitors for your continued patience as we finalise our plans, and for your understanding and messages of support – this is very much appreciated.

In the meantime, I wish you and your families a relaxing break over the Easter period and I hope that the impact of the current situation is as minimal as possible for you all.

Matt Wingfield

Chair, The e-Assessment Association