Delivering the future of assessment: Practical insights from the NCFE Assessment Innovation Fund
Developing new approaches to assessment can be challenging, however innovation in assessment is essential if we are to leverage the advantages of new technologies to help get adults learning and deliver the skills employers need.
Join the Assessment Innovation Fund team from NCFE to explore how new technologies and approaches are being adopted across the assessment system, driving forward the transformation of assessment and supporting post-16 learners to thrive and achieve their potential.
This session will explore three diverse Assessment Innovation Fund projects, each with an innovative approach to using technology to solve a problem for learners in an area of assessment. Projects will include:
- The Calderdale College project to immerse learners in a VR and simulation centre assessment experience
- The University of Newcastle Australia project that replaced traditional grades with digital badges
- Runway Training who are helping learners to prepare for onscreen Maths and English exams
The session will also share details of NCFE’s Assessment Innovation Fund 2024, supported by Ufi VocTech Trust.
Who should attend?
This session will benefit anyone who is, or wants to, develop new approaches to assessment and wants to hear from people who have been there and done it. The session will also benefit educators wanting to keep up to date on the assessment methods of tomorrow.
Find out more about the NCFE Assessment Innovation Fund.
Re-watch the session
Our speakers
Dean Blewitt
Senior Innovation and Investments Manager, NCFE
I'm Dean Blewitt, Senior Innovation and Investments Manager at NCFE, and my role revolves around managing various innovation pilots that explore the potential benefits and disbenefits of new educational technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, and Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality. My focus lies specifically within the context of further and vocational education where NCFE operates as the third largest technical and vocational Awarding Organisation in the UK.

Mahreen Ferdous
Projects and Partnership Manager, Ufi VocTech Trust
Mahreen supports Ufi funded projects and cohorts across different verticals. She has supported organisations including The Princes’ Trust, CodeYourFuture, RSA and Beam among others. Mahreen is also responsible for implementing the evaluation of Ufi's grant funding.

Sakina Khan
Innovation Project Manager, NCFE
Sakina is Innovation Project Manager for the Assessment Innovation Fund at NCFE. She has over 20 years of leadership and management experience in education, including leading a wide range of assessment provision and quality initiatives. Sakina is passionate about building relationships and collaborating with key stakeholders to ensure our innovative products help our providers, employers – and most importantly – learners to succeed