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Programme Assessment Strategies (PASS)

This National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) funded project outlived its funding period and is still very much alive with new and updated case studies, recent publications, and workshops in high demand. Teams adopting programme focused assessment have been recognised nationally through Collaborative Awards for Teaching Excellence CATE.

The project aimed to confront a fundamental issue for every Higher Education (HE) course/programme leader: how to design an effective, efficient, inclusive and sustainable assessment strategy which delivers the key course/programme outcomes.

“It is enlightening to realise the restrictions that a teaching focused credit bearing modular system inflicts on the longitudinal development of students.”

Peninsula Medical School - Case Study Update

Our PASS leads

Professor Peter Hartley

Peter Hartley is now Higher Education Consultant, and Visiting Professor at Edge Hill University, following previous roles as Professor of Education Development at Bradford and Professor of Communication at Sheffield Hallam.

As National Teaching Fellow since 2000, he has promoted new technology in education, including the development of award-winning software. He led influential development projects for HEA and Jisc was involved in other national initiatives (e.g. CETLs) covering a range of themes, including institutional online and assessment strategies. Recent/ongoing consultancy includes work on coaching/CPD initiatives, institutional strategies for learning spaces, and assessment (usually involving approaches from the PASS project on programme-focused assessment).

Current interests also include concept mapping and visual thinking, and developments in human communication and online interaction (e.g. second edition of Business Communication, Routledge, 2015).

Ruth Whitfield

Ruth Whitfield is a National Teaching Fellow and former Senior Educational Developer at the University of Bradford where, until retirement, she led the Educational and Digital Learning Development Team with responsibility for institutional implementation and operation of key educational enhancement initiatives, not least the development of the Bradford Curriculum 2022.

She received institutional recognition for her significant teaching experience and outstanding contributions to teaching excellence (the University’s Baroness Lockwood Award and Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement) and developed a national reputation for her management of educational projects leading to National Teaching Fellow 2020.

Major projects included the exploration of student transitions in, through and out of Higher Education (DevelopMe and Outduction) and the development of programme-focused assessment through the PASS project which continues to influence institutional strategies and assessment practice across the UK.

Most recently, Ruth has focused on enhancing the student learning experience by supporting programme leaders to design and implement programme focused assessment.

Ruth, Head of Educational Development at University of Bradford

Jackie Smart

Jackie Smart is a Senior Educational Developer at the University of Bradford, where she contributes to the Bradford: Fellowships scheme and has led on the development of various aspects of CPD for staff, with a particular focus on assessment and programme leadership. She is also a facilitator of the Advance HE Professional Development Course for External Examiners.

This is Jackie's second career, following 25 years as an academic teaching Drama. During this drama career, she was involved in a number of pedagogical research and enhancement projects, in the design of a range of innovative UG and PG programmes of study and in leading and managing programmes and departments.

Jackie Smart
Tel: 01274-232277
Email: j.smart2@bradford.ac.uk.

Directorate of Learning, Teaching & Student Experience,
University of Bradford
BRADFORD
BD7 1DP

Jackie, Senior Educational Developer at University of Bradford

Contact us

For the latest news/updates, please follow @PASS_Bradford on Twitter.

On behalf of the University of Bradford, Prof Peter Hartley and Ruth Whitfield, the PASS Project Director and Project Manager respectively, continue to promote PASS and programme focused assessment.

Jackie Smart now heads this work at the University of Bradford. Please contact Jackie Smart for:

  • More information about the PASS project
  • Discussion about new or updated case studies
  • Delivering a workshop for you