Authentic assessment in higher education: conceptual evolution, key debates and implications for practice

Authentic assessment has become increasingly central in higher education, reflecting a shift away from traditional, decontextualised testing toward assessment practices emphasising meaningful learning, integrated competence and the application of knowledge in context. Despite its growing prominence, authentic assessment remains conceptually fragmented, encompassing task-focused, competence-oriented, and more recent embedded and future-oriented interpretations. This article presents a comprehensive conceptual review tracing the evolution of authentic assessment from its early performance-oriented formulations in the late 1980s to contemporary conceptualisations emphasising sustainability, digital mediation, ethical engagement with emerging technologies and lifelong learning capabilities. The article synthesises historical and theoretical developments to examine how authenticity has been reframed in response to changing educational priorities and institutional contexts. It also highlights key debates in authentic assessment and tensions surrounding employability, equity, standardisation, digitally mediated learning environments and academic integrity. By providing an analytically structured account of the conceptual evolution of authentic assessment, the article clarifies conceptual ambiguities, situates contemporary developments within a broader historical trajectory and provides a foundation for future empirical research on the mechanisms, implementation and outcomes of authentic assessment across diverse higher education contexts.