Innovative assessment techniques and their impact on student engagement and retention in higher education

Abstract

This study examines the influence of assessment practices on student engagement, academic performance, and retention in higher education. It highlights the significant role of assessment in shaping student learning behaviours. The study adopted a Positivist research paradigm with a research design. The HEI surveyed comprises four campuses,and a stratified random sampling was applied to select a total of 660 students, all year three students only.Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to perform descriptive analysis for the study. Findings indicatedthat effective assessment practices influence motivation, confidence, and academic success. Female students were found to value academic and non-academic program aspects more than male students, while satisfaction with assessment techniques varied based on funding sources, with self-financed and scholarship students being the most sensitive. The study stressesthe importance of aligning assessment methods with learning objectives, providing meaningful feedback, and adopting diverse, inclusive, and ethical approaches to assessment. Recommendations include enhancing transparency, fostering reflective learning, and integrating assessment into institutional strategies to support diverse student needs and improve retention rates. The findings highlightthe need for continuous evaluation and development of assessment practices to ensure their relevance and effectiveness in higher education.