Undergraduate business student Stephanie Anderson came joint first in a competition run by the Higher Education Academy's Business, Management, Accountancy and Finance 'Student Voice' competition. Students from across the UK were required to write about the kind of assessment and feedback practices that worked best for them.
Stephanie said, "My essay focused on challenging the traditional methods of exam assessment and solely graded feedback. I feel simply learning narrow subject data to pass exams lacks the practical application which is vital in studying business with the prospect of utilising knowledge in a real business environment. This can be overcome by critical essays, analytical and strategic reports which can be further developed by discursive personal feedback, as this deepens knowledge and Stephanie Andersonprovides rich comprehension into course material.
"I didn't expect to win joint first as it was a UK national competition, but I was thrilled when I received the news. My management lecturer Dr Paul Hibbert suggested this opportunity and has provided many successful forms of assessment and feedback which my essay was based on."
BMAF, the Business Management Accountancy and Finance Subject Network works with university staff and the Association of Business Schools, and is keen to receive students' perspective to improve assessment for all so the competition was for students in business education to have a voice, and identify 'what works for me'.
Stephanie (BA Hons Marketing and Management) won a cheque for £250, an iPod Touch donated by the Association of Business Schools, and an invitation to the HEA annual conference. SBS will be awarded a certificate 'to recognise the positive environment that the student has described'.
Third place went to Kirsty Chalmers, again of Strathclyde, who will receive a cheque for £150.
The Higher Education Academy will be uploading the winning entries at http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/business/ourwork/student_voice