Jenya Pronoza

The new Assessment Unit offices were opened at the Centre for Preparatory Studies (CPS). The CPS Assessment Unit is now centralised and secure in full compliance with the SQU Undergraduate Academic Assessment Policy. The Unit has been serving the needs of the Centre for 15 years with great dedication by running annual major placement testing events for the whole of SQU, and organizing mid-semester and final exams for the CPS foundation program. It has recently embarked on a greater mission by embracing testing matters in the Math and IT foundation program departments, and also by supervising assessment of the numerous and diverse credit courses in the CPS. The recent expansion has meant hiring more members to serve in the Assessment Unit and, therefore, providing them with better working conditions.

The new premises are spacious, light and allow for better interaction between members due to the improved office design. The new offices can accommodate up to 12 members who enjoy their own desks and can work on tests in privacy. There is now a separate meeting room where assessment unit members can run test validation meetings, test revision sessions and other various test-related events without disturbing the work flow of other members. This room can also be used by non-members who work on assigned test-related projects. The new storeroom allows for the storage of test-related documentation for the required period of two years for a total of 45 courses.

Test printing facilities are now much improved due to the spacious and better-ventilated test printing office, which comfortably fits numerous shelves, all the printing machines, shredders and CD burning stations. The unit's Test Administration members have more room now to work on test copying and test pack preparation for the actual testing events.