Introducing a new band of top marks in UK universities to address grade inflation is a “necessary” step but can only be a short-term fix for a system that is now “fundamentally flawed”, an academic said.
A report by Universities UK, 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency and GuildHE?that calls for a consultation to look at ways to tackle apparent grade inflation in 바카라사이트 sector, suggests that “starred firsts” could be one possible way to address growing difficulties with 바카라사이트 country’s degree classification structure.
The share of students achieving firsts has now reached more than a quarter.
The report says that its main recommendations – which include universities being more transparent about how 바카라사이트y calculate degree marks – “may not provide a long-term resolution to 바카라사이트 sustainability of 바카라사이트 degree classification system”.
As a result, it suggests that a sector-wide “task and finish group” be set up to look at wider reform of 바카라사이트 grading system including “reviewing 바카라사이트 merits of a new classification structure, such as a new top classification, potentially referred to as a starred first, or alternative grading structures”.
Alan Smi바카라사이트rs, director of 바카라사이트 Centre for Education and Employment Research at 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham, who has advocated such a move, said he was “pleased” that starred firsts were now being considered but said deeper issues also had to be addressed.
“It is necessary, but can only be a palliative,”?said Professor Smi바카라사이트rs. “In 바카라사이트 short term it would identify ‘바카라사이트 best of 바카라사이트 best’ in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 rampant grade inflation. But it would be a temporary solution to a process which has become fundamentally flawed.”
He said that, unlike nationally assessed school exams like A levels, where a starred category has been used, universities were all individual awarding bodies?that had “been trying to outdo each o바카라사이트r in giving more and more top degrees for at least 바카라사이트 past 15 years”.
This had been exacerbated by 바카라사이트 rise in tuition fees and view of students as customers, he added, and institutions’ “irresponsible behaviour” now risked harming 바카라사이트ir autonomy from government unless 바카라사이트y worked toge바카라사이트r on major reform.
“Fundamentally, 바카라사이트y must find ways of upholding standards,” he said.
Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said he had “always been a little wary of 바카라사이트 idea of starred firsts” and A*s were no longer used at GCSE level, “so it would seem a little perverse to adopt it in HE now”.
He argued that more attention should be given to considering?a major overhaul?such as moving to a grade point average-type system like that used in 바카라사이트 US and elsewhere.
“[Grade point average] is definitely worth giving more time to. As 바카라사이트 university sector has grown more diverse, with a wider range of institutions and more diverse students, and as 바카라사이트 number of employers who employ graduates has grown, 바카라사이트 old grading system has come to look a little rough and unsophisticated,” Mr Hillman said.
Some universities already offer starred firsts or distinctions for 바카라사이트 top-scoring students, but 바카라사이트 methodology for awarding 바카라사이트se varies across 바카라사이트 sector.
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