Innovation and regulation in professional assessments

Assessment regulations are an essential pillar of professional qualifications. They ensure assessments remain fair, rigorous, and reliable for everyone.

Or do they?

We’ve previously discussed how traditional assessments can cause exclusion - especially for those who identify as neurodivergent.

Plus, with our modern ways of working now utilising AI and other emerging technologies, it leads to the question:

How relevant are professional qualifications to the current world?

Candidates now require a specific set of skills that previous assessments aren’t tailored to, leading to skills gaps that will only get bigger as time goes on.

It seems like innovation in assessments is necessary for modern working, but how do we ensure they maintain fairness within these transformations?

Here at Kaplan Assessments, we design, develop, and deliver tailored, accessible qualifications to ensure your talent has essential skills while remaining fair, reliable, and robust.

Our qualifications are approved by Ofqual. So you can rest assured that your professionals will achieve valid qualifications, even with innovative testing methods.

Get in contact today to find out how Kaplan Assessments can transform your organisation.

Why is innovation in assessments needed?

It’s no secret that companies are becoming much more innovative and pioneering in the technologies they use.

And for good reason.

AI and automated tasks are increasing in popularity due to the freedom they give workplaces to focus on more important operations, such as strategies.

Therefore, how relevant are traditional assessments to modern working and the future of businesses?

When we think about AI and assessments, there are opinions that there should now be sections within the qualification to assess candidates’ ability to utilise AI tools accurately.

If that’s the way modern working is going…

But how do we ensure fairness in assessments if AI is being used?

Or simply make them fair for everyone.

For example, we all know that not everyone performs to their full potential under examination conditions.

Many candidates experience nerves, stress, and anxiety - are these negative impacts on mental health really necessary whilst attempting to achieve something great like professional development?

Plus, with 1 in 7 people in the UK identifying as neurodivergent, it’s fair to assume that neurodivergent candidates will likely be excluded from traditional qualifications.

There are reasonable adjustments that can be made to ensure neuro-inclusion in assessments, but should these have to be made?

Can we just innovate assessments to ensure inclusivity across the board?

Of course, the traditional regulations of assessments - standardisation, reliability, and plagiarism - are extremely important. They wouldn’t still be essential pillars of the assessment framework if they weren’t!

Yet, as necessary as they are, are they what is preventing innovation in assessments from happening?

How have assessment regulations changed over the years?

When we think about qualifications, you, your parents, and your grandparents have likely followed the same format.

That’s because assessments haven’t changed much since written exams started in England in the 19th century!

They continue to be a way to show what candidates are capable of achieving.

Yet saying this, one survey has shown that 44% of employers now value experience higher than assessments when hiring!

Plus, 87% of employers favour positive work attitude over qualifications – they value attributes such as:

• Strong work ethic
• Desire to learn
• Passion for the role and/or sector

Is this because assessments no longer provide candidates with the skills they need for current roles?

Signifying that the standard for the profession isn’t being met with qualifications.

This leads to experience and the willingness to learn skills required for specific jobs becoming more important than the qualifications themselves.

A recent survey found that 20% of workers will be underskilled for their roles by 2030.

With the emergence of new, digital roles and the rapid pace of AI, this skills gap could have a detrimental impact on your business.

How do we change this to ensure assessments are still relevant?

Innovation in assessments is the answer.

But how far can we really innovate qualification methods while holding up regulations?

What is the purpose of assessments?

These days, we are trapped in the thought process that getting a qualification equates to getting a “good grade”.

This can create volatile motivation - viewing the exercise as a chore rather than an opportunity to develop skill sets and enhance abilities which can lead to job promotion or moving into new roles.

If we want the purpose of an assessment to be about gaining knowledge and skills to improve competency in respective industries, the assessment needs to match.

Kaplan Assessments can help you create innovation in assessment regulations with tailored professional qualifications

If you want a tailored assessment to:

• Maintain inclusivity in your workplace offering
• Ensure your professionals are getting relevant skills and knowledge
• Can support your talent and their individual needs

Kaplan Assessments can help.

We design, develop, and deliver tailored professional qualifications to various industries, such as finance, legal, business, and accounting.

Our adaptable approach to assessments allows for various innovations. We have a team of expert psychometricians and quality assurance professionals who ensure your tailored assessments are relevant but in line with regulations to maintain fairness, robustness, and reliability.

Plus, all of our tailored solutions are verified by Ofqual to ensure they meet these standards despite innovative additions.

We’ve helped more than 4,000 corporations globally - will you be next?