Author Identifier (ORCID)
Claire Lambert: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0020-2599
Madeleine Ogilvie: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4589-2327
Stephanie Meek: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0427-3316
Abstract
Background: Universities are increasingly pressured to enhance graduate employability by embedding career readiness into curricula. Authentic, industry-based assessments offer a means to link theory with practice, yet little is known about their impact from the student perspective. Purpose: This study explored how an industry-based authentic assessment supports students’ transition to work through the lens of Experiential Learning Theory (ELT). Method: Using a qualitative design, guided-introspection questionnaires were completed by 20 marketing graduates 2 years after completing an industry-based social marketing project. Directed content analysis identified themes aligned with ELT stages and mechanisms of confidence, networks, and professional enculturation. Findings: Authentic assessments accelerate movement through ELT stages, building self-efficacy, professional identity, and social capital. Implications: The study proposes a conceptual “transition framework” showing how authentic, industry-based assessments transcend knowledge-building to develop confident, industry-ready graduates. By embedding these assessments within a scaffolded curriculum, universities can strengthen learning integrity and enhance employability outcomes.
Keywords
Curriculum development, experiential learning, higher education
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
1-1-2026
Publication Title
Journal of Experiential Education
Publisher
Sage
School
School of Business and Law
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Lambert, C., Ogilvie, M., & Meek, S. (2026). Students’ perspectives on authentic assessment: An experiential learning framework for work-readiness and employability. Journal of Experiential Education. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10538259261425680