FE Colleges Invited to Enter the 2026 International e-Assessment Awards

Further Education colleges across the UK are being encouraged to showcase their digital assessment innovation as entries open for the 2026 International e-Assessment Awards with FE institutions able to enter for free right up to the final submission deadline in February 2026.

Now in their tenth year, these Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in digital assessment across education, professional certification and the workplace. Delivered by the e-Assessment Association (eAA) the awards continue to highlight how technology is shaping assessment, from improving classroom feedback and accessibility to supporting high-stakes testing at scale.

For 2026, the Awards have expanded significantly, with new categories directly relevant to the FE sector, reflecting the growing use of digital and AI-enabled assessment in vocational, technical and professional education.

Most notably, a new Best College Digital Assessment Award has been introduced to recognise FE providers that have implemented digital assessment programmes or initiatives delivering measurable improvements in teaching, learning and assessment practice, whether across apprenticeships, vocational courses, professional training or academic qualifications.

Celebrating Innovation in FE and Skills Assessment

FE colleges are increasingly leading digital transformation , adopting on-screen assessment and enhanced formative feedback models, implementing remote invigilation, inclusive assessment design and using AI to support marking and reporting. The 2026 Awards aim to shine a spotlight on this work and provide a national platform to recognise the teams delivering this change on the ground.

Matt Wingfield, Chair of the Judges, said: “Each year we see extraordinary commitment and creativity from individuals and organisations using technology to improve assessment. In 2026 we’re shining an even brighter light on the people with the vision, drive and determination to make assessment more accessible, more trustworthy, and more aligned to the skills the world needs. We’re also expanding our AI categories, recognising the huge potential of AI transform assessment while celebrating those who are doing this responsibly and transparently.”

New AI Categories Reflect Sector Priorities

As FE providers increasingly explore the responsible use of AI across assessment workflows, three dedicated AI awards have been introduced for 2026:

• AI in Content & Test Development Award recognising innovative use of AI in creating assessment materials
• AI in Marking Award celebrating projects using AI to support the marking of essays, free-text responses or handwritten scripts
• AI in Test Delivery Award (Security, Online Proctoring, ID Validation) recognising excellence in using AI to enhance exam security and candidate authentication

Winners from these categories will also be considered for the AI in Assessment Innovation Overall Award.

Full Award Categories

In addition to the AI awards, there are new institutional awards as well as an additional 12 awards that FE colleges and their partners can enter across a wide range of established categories.

Free to Enter for FE Colleges

Crucially for the FE sector, there is no cost to submit entries, and colleges can enter for free right up to the final deadline on Thursday 12 February 2026, 12:00 GMT. This ensures that budget constraints do not prevent colleges from sharing valuable best practice, evaluated pilots or fully embedded digital solutions.

All submissions are reviewed by an independent, international panel of judges with expertise spanning assessment design, technology, research, policy and regulation. Winners will be announced on Tuesday 9 June 2026, at the Awards Gala Dinner during the International e-Assessment Conference, London.