It it time to get rid of group assignments at university? Federal Opposition education spokesperson Julian Leeser thinks so. On Thursday, he called for universities to drop group assessments entirely, arguing they are fundamentally “unfair” and “cheapen” degrees.

In a speech to the Universities Australia conference in Canberra, Leeser said:

Students feel, instinctively, that in many cases it is deeply unfair to assess them individually based on others’ work.

Students feel, instinctively, that in many cases it is deeply unfair to assess them individually based on others’ work.

His logic is one many students will find familiar: one person inevitably ends up doing all the heavy lifting, while others coast along to a shared grade. Leeser added collaboration is merely a “soft skill” that should be taught in the classroom, but not formally assessed.

I understand the need for employers to have graduates who can collaborate in the workplace, but these are soft skills which should not be the subject of a university assessment system.

I understand the need for employers to have graduates who can collaborate in the workplace, but these are soft skills which should not be the subject of a university assessment system.

This is a seductive argument. But it ignores........

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