During the AZERO MSCA Fellowship, the fellow received focused training at Dublin City University on interactive oral assessment as an innovative evaluation technique. This training introduced the principles of authentic, scenario‑based oral examinations, where students engage in a guided, unscripted conversation rather than a traditional written test. The fellow learned how interactive orals can better capture students’ understanding of complex sustainability topics, including aviation decarbonization, by assessing their ability to articulate key concepts, apply them to realistic industry scenarios, and respond dynamically to probing questions.
The training also included a one‑off practical session (i.e. the MNA-1002 Sustainable Aviation course), in which the fellow designed and facilitated a single interactive oral assessment linked to AZERO2050, acting as both evaluator and reflective practitioner. Through this practice, the fellow applied the rubric‑based marking approach, experimented with pacing and question design, and observed how students performed under a more dialogic and professional-style evaluation format. This hands‑on experience provided valuable insight into how interactive orals can be integrated into sustainable aviation curricula, strengthening both the fellow’s pedagogical toolkit and the MSCA project’s impact on teaching and learning.