The role of employers in the assessment process in WIL: Students' and employers' perspectives

Meaningful assessment and feedback are key principles of effective teaching and learning in higher education. In the context of Work Integrated Learning (WIL), assessment is more challenging as it involves external partners, for example employers. Employers can contribute to the assessment process and give valuable feedback to students, but the important question is how and to what extent? This study explored the perspectives of students and employers on the benefits and challenges of involving employers in the assessment process. Feedback was gathered from 39 students and five employers following students' participation in simulated WIL in an academic environment, in the form of work-related projects. Employers' role in the assessment process was predominantly perceived as a mentor and advisor, and the majority of students and employers agreed that assessment criteria should be co-created between teachers and employers. Students appreciated employers' feedback as it provided a real-world perspective. The themes of Clarity of expectations, Quality of feedback, Authenticity/real-world, Awareness of business dynamics, and Career development resonated across students' perceptions of the impact of employer feedback. This paper contributes to establishing mutual understanding of meaningful assessment among stakeholders (teachers, students and employers) participating in WIL learning experiences.