Information and Communication Technology and Engineering Technology Projects: Towards Assessment for Learning in Higher Education

Work-related learning and projects are used in bachelor degrees courses as a pragmatic approach to prepare graduates for lifelong learning. There is great attention to assessment design meeting the required quality principles standards, purposes and attributes. This study examines whether projects meet the required quality level. It also analyzes the appropriateness of using projects as 'assessment for learning' in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Engineering Technology (EngTech) higher education (HE) progranmes. This research informed by the literature review and professional reflective practice, suggests that projects assessments, in themselves, provide opportunities for learning. Projects can be used for demonstrating undergraduates' knowledge, technical skills and competencies. Whereas projects achieve high level of authenticity, effectiveness, long-life learning transparency and validity, a number of concerns arose with regards to achieving the required level of practicability, reliability, comparability, consistency and equity. Testing is continually required to bring projects to the desired design that is best fit for purpose.