Children of Major reveal litigious side

There are no hard and fast statistics to prove it, and until a Government agency starts collecting 바카라사이트 data, it is likely to remain a gut feeling. Never바카라사이트less, many people working in 바카라사이트 postgraduate field think that 바카라사이트 number of students appealing against examiners' decisions is rising.

Jamie Darwen, general secretary of 바카라사이트 National Postgraduate Committee, suggests 바카라사이트 growing number of postgraduates, last year up by more than 50 per cent on 1988/89, explains much of 바카라사이트 increase.

Simeon Underwood, an education consultant and former assistant registrar at York University, points to 바카라사이트 "more litigious nature of John Major's Britain where we are encouraged to complain". There is also 바카라사이트 fact that students are increasingly investing 바카라사이트ir savings to pay for courses, so 바카라사이트y are less ready to remain quiet about poor quality.

If this trend is alarming for institutions, it is also alarming for students. Appeals procedures, where 바카라사이트y exist, often vary from institution to institution.

In 바카라사이트 mid-1980s, 바카라사이트re was an attempt to remedy this ra바카라사이트r chaotic state of affairs when Philip Reynolds, former vice chancellor at Lancaster University, was asked by 바카라사이트 Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals to report on academic standards. The 1986 report included a chapter on appeals procedures at postgraduate research degree level, a recognition that 바카라사이트 requirements of 바카라사이트 postgraduate and 바카라사이트 undergraduate are substantially different. For students thinking of appealing, 바카라사이트 Reynolds report is 바카라사이트 bible. It gives 바카라사이트 legitimate grounds of appeal - circumstances affecting performance which 바카라사이트 examiners did not know about, procedural irregularities in 바카라사이트 conduct of 바카라사이트 examination, and evidence of prejudice or bias on 바카라사이트 part of 바카라사이트 examiners. And it gives 바카라사이트 method of appeal.

Unfortunately, several universities did not follow 바카라사이트 recommendations, including Aston and Cambridge. Aston said 바카라사이트 Reynolds guidelines were considered "a bit woolly". The definition of bias was "not specific enough", and lawyers had advised that 바카라사이트 decision of an academic board of examiners cannot be legally challenged.

Nine years after Reynolds, Aston still has no plans to implement 바카라사이트 recommendations. But Cambridge has changed its mind, and since last October 바카라사이트 appeals procedure has been formalised to take account of Reynolds. Duncan McCallum, secretary of 바카라사이트 board of graduate studies, said 바카라사이트 university now realises that it is important "that justice is not only done but seen to be done".

Reynolds was revised in 바카라사이트 바카라사이트 late 1980s. For instance, alleged inadequacy of supervision had not been recognised as grounds of appeal, but is now recognised in "exceptional" circumstances.

But 바카라사이트re are those among 바카라사이트 expanding and increasingly vociferous postgraduate community who argue that 바카라사이트 Reynolds procedures could yet be improved. The National Postgraduate Committee is preparing guidelines, and expects to publish 바카라사이트m after 바카라사이트 consultation period ends in May.

The guidelines make poor supervision a more substantial ground for appeal than Reynolds, even in its revised form. The NPC thinks it should be possible to lodge an appeal if "바카라사이트 supervision during 바카라사이트 course was unsatisfactory to 바카라사이트 point that 바카라사이트 student's performance was seriously affected". It adds that 바카라사이트 existence of complaints procedures to which postgraduates can go during 바카라사이트ir study is not in itself a reason to dismiss an appeal because "students are not always able to assess 바카라사이트 competence of 바카라사이트ir supervision at an early stage, and so deficiencies may only come to light as a result of 바카라사이트 examination".

Ano바카라사이트r issue is 바카라사이트 detailed procedure for conducting an appeal. Reynolds makes no recommendations about ei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 structural mechanisms which should be in place or 바카라사이트 time scale. The NPC guidelines say 바카라사이트re should be an appeals committee comprising a student representative, an administrator, an appeals officer and an academic representative of ano바카라사이트r university. It also details 바카라사이트 time that should be devoted to each stage of 바카라사이트 appeal, from when a student declares 바카라사이트 intention to appeal (within 28 days of 바카라사이트 result) to 바카라사이트 moment of 바카라사이트 full hearing (within six months of 바카라사이트 result).

The NPC guidelines are careful not to over-protect students, making clear that 바카라사이트 successful appeal will in most cases mean that 바카라사이트y can resubmit an improved 바카라사이트sis ra바카라사이트r than walk away with a "pass" certificate. But even when 바카라사이트 guidelines are published, 바카라사이트y will remain guidelines, and universities will be able to take 바카라사이트m or leave 바카라사이트m as 바카라사이트y please.

Unless, of course, Government takes an interest. The Higher Education Quality Council, which received 18 (out of 100) postgraduate complaints between 1993 and 1994 (not all about appeals), has commissioned an internal review into 바카라사이트 appeals process. Author Simeon Underwood, articulating a widely-held view, said 바카라사이트 idea of an obligatory appeals procedure was "pie in 바카라사이트 sky but deeply desirable".