Abstract:

Assessment of student learning and academic achievement is a fundamental aspect of teaching and has a significant impact on graduate employment. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, distance learning has become crucial in higher education. Therefore, it is important to identify challenges in the field of assessment and academic achievement, the solution of which will have a positive impact on the employment of graduates.

A two-stage study was conducted to identify challenges to the student assessment system and academic achievement results in distance learning, and to determine its impact on alumni employment. In the first stage, the contributing and limiting factors of distance learning, types of learning and academic achievement assessment are examined through desk research.Syllabuses and academic performance indicators of Tbilisi State University, Faculty of Economics and Business, and Akaki Tsereteli State University, Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences, have been selected as research objects. The main types of assessment are identified through syllabus analysis and data grouping. The first phase of the study developed hypotheses about the role and contribution of learning assessment in the development of courses, analyzed academic achievement and employment rates of graduates.

Quantitative and qualitative research is conducted in the second stage. In the process of interviews with focus groups and experts, a pre-designed questionnaire is used to identify research problems, the most important of which are: What are the challenges in setting up and using an online course evaluation system? What evaluation practices have been used with the online system that have been particularly effective? How has the online training and assessment of the course affected the development of the courses and the evaluation practice? What are the academic achievement rates and how does it affect graduate employment? The study identifies the challenges of the distance learning assessment system and academic achievement that affect graduate employment. The Spearman coefficient (Rho) of the rank correlation determines the relationship between job satisfaction and compliance with the remuneration of the work performed. Findings on the links between academic achievement, employment, and pay rates are presented. At the bottom of the paper are the suggested recommendations for overcoming the challenges.

Keywords:

Higher Education, Distance Learning, Assessment System, Academic Achievement graduate employment.