The development of the approach to assessment and certification of the students participating in the ESSA project draws on principles of reflective and experiential learning. The assessment and certification process is tightly integrated with the ESSA student learning journey:

The assessment approach covers both the Auditor Training Programme and the social responsibility audits that form part of the ESSA project. The student auditors receive the training to develop their skills and knowledge in social responsibility auditing to then apply, refine and develop their competences through undertaking an audit of a higher education institution.  On successful completion of the training, audit and assessment process, the students can be awarded the Certificate in Social Responsibility Auditing, equivalent to 5 European Credit Transfer Scheme (ECTS) credits at European Qualification Framework (EQF) Level 6. 

Based on this reflective experiential learning approach, the assessment framework has been realised as a structured e-portfolio system, built using PebblePad during the Erasmus+ funding period. Whilst the PebblePad system developed is not available outside of the funding, the framework is designed to enable HEIs who wish to offer the Certificate to incorporate it within their own e-learning platforms.  The framework includes detailed instructions and guidance on demonstrating learning, knowledge and understanding. The detailed rubrics and criteria used in grading the portfolios are available to students making the assessment process fully transparent to participants.

The approach is designed to support students’ abilities in applying and critiquing knowledge as theories, models and practices of social responsibility auditing while also enabling students to validate and justify their claims for learning and competence. This approach to assessment helps students surface the sort of transferable graduate attributes than enhance their employability in a very tangible way.  

Download the Assessment Manual here.