Decolonizing assessment of learning in higher education: the journey ahead

Castillo-Montoya, Milagros; Madriaga, Manuel

Abstract

This Point of Departure ponders the question of decolonizing assessment of learning in higher education. In addressing this question, we, as scholars of color who work in the academy in the US and the UK, have leaned on the work of Shahjahan, Estera, Surla, and Edwards’ (2022) ‘“Decolonizing” Curriculum and Pedagogy: A comparative review across disciplines and global higher education contexts’ in Review of Educational Research (92[1]: 73-113). Their literature review not only uncovered various meanings and methods of actualizing decolonial work, it also foregrounded challenges to decolonize curriculum and pedagogy. This framed our reflections as university teachers, querying what we do with a heart-desire to humanize our practice. We also take up the call to be critical about how we engage in assessment of learning with our students. We hope the readers of this piece will join us on this journey.

Citation

Castillo-Montoya, M., & Madriaga, M. (2025). Decolonizing assessment of learning in higher education: the journey ahead. Teaching in Higher Education, 30(2), 555-564. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2024.2350006

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 15, 2024
• Online Publication Date: May 12, 2024
• Publication Date: 2025
• Deposit Date: Apr 17, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 13, 2025
• Journal: Teaching in Higher Education
• Print ISSN: 1356-2517
• Electronic ISSN: 1470-1294
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 555-564
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2024.2350006
• Keywords: Decolonizing; assessment; learning; postsecondary education; inclusive education
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/33832489
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13562517.2024.2350006
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=cthe20; Received: 2023-12-22; Accepted: 2024-04-15; Published: 2024-05-12