Mohammad Manesh, Lee McHugh & David Anderson
The Exhibition Odyssey project made its debut between April 28th and May 2nd, 2025, within the DCB building at Lincoln International Business School (LIBS). Spearheaded by Mohammad Fakhar Manesh (PI), alongside Lee McHugh and David Anderson (Co-PIs), this pioneering initiative introduced live exhibitions as a dynamic alternative to traditional assessment formats in business education.
Drawing inspiration from practices in the arts, the project aimed to transform how assessments are perceived and conducted in business subjects. By reimagining assessments as immersive, collaborative, and multi-sensory experiences, Exhibition Odyssey encouraged students to engage deeply with course content while fostering creativity, collaboration, and communication. The approach sought to reduce the anxiety typically associated with traditional assessments, creating an environment where students could showcase their work confidently and enjoyably.
Key highlights of the project included exhibition-based formats such as interactive poster displays, ambient music, and collaborative group setups. Students were actively involved in shaping the project, particularly in the Innovation Management module, where second-year students provided valuable feedback through surveys. One student shared: “I really enjoyed this type of presentation. It allowed me to confidently present our group findings without stressing or jumbling my words.” Over 54% of students who participated reported positive feedback, with many praising the format for its ability to promote learning and reduce stress.
This project directly addressed concerns raised by NSS scores, making assessments more participatory and meaningful. Notable outcomes included the creation of teaching resources, such as poster templates and assessment design guidelines, along with the establishment of a peer support network to help staff adopt the model. Furthermore, the project supported those managing exhibition-based assessments, ensuring its sustainable implementation across the curriculum.
The Exhibition Odyssey project has already shown a positive impact, with improved module evaluations, enhanced student satisfaction, and growing interest among academic staff in innovative assessment methods. It also promotes essential industry skills such as teamwork, communication, and adaptability, aligning academic practices with real-world expectations.
Students’ reflections underscore the success of the initiative:
- “I found it so much more relaxing and easier than giving a presentation! Normally I feel too stressed about presenting to really listen to the other presentations but using this way I was able to listen to everyone else’s ideas and share my own stress free and I learnt much more than I normally would.”
- “It was so much more relaxing and easier than giving a presentation.”
- “I was able to listen to everyone else’s ideas and share my own stress-free.”
- “It helped us to collaborate with the other groups.”
In sum, the Exhibition Odyssey sets a new standard for experiential learning and student-centred pedagogy in business education, with clear potential for broader institutional impact. If you would like to have a conversation with the team, please feel free to get in touch, mfakharmanesh@lincoln.ac.uk.
