Soraya Lester

Soraya is a Research Assistant at CILT and a PhD student at the University of Cape Town. Her work focuses on research projects related to digital learning, assessment and student success in higher education.

She has contributed to the MOOC Takers Research Project, which explored the value of MOOCs for participants across Africa, as well as the UCT Assessment Project, which examined approaches to supporting student success through transformed assessment practices. Since 2024, she has worked on a University Capacity Development Grant-funded project focused on enhancing assessment literacy and practices in the age of AI.

Colleagues can engage with Soraya on:

• Research related to assessment and student success
• AI and digital tools in assessment practice
• Monitoring and evaluation approaches

Soraya’s research background is in intervention science, with a focus on monitoring and evaluation and violence prevention. Her work brings together research, assessment practice and digital innovation in higher education.