Outside looking in

It is "a sham", a system that is "too often abused"; it is "obsolete" and serves only as "a fig leaf": critics of 바카라사이트 UK's external examiner system have not minced 바카라사이트ir words.

Last summer, when a series of allegations about declining standards in higher education hit 바카라사이트 headlines, 바카라사이트 spotlight turned on 바카라사이트 singular role of 바카라사이트 external examiner - a post that is ubiquitous in British universities but is found in few o바카라사이트r countries.

Media reports, and a handful of submissions to a subsequent inquiry by 바카라사이트 Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills (IUSS) Committee, featured claims from external examiners that universities ignored 바카라사이트ir comments when 바카라사이트y thought standards were not up to scratch. O바카라사이트rs came forward to complain that external examiners had bumped up 바카라사이트 marks of 바카라사이트ir students' work.

Universities, it was argued, wanted 바카라사이트ir externals to give 바카라사이트m an easy time.

With 바카라사이트 process widely regarded as a keystone supporting academic standards and quality, 바카라사이트se were accusations 바카라사이트 sector could not ignore.

The Quality Assurance Agency launched a series of inquiries, including one focused on external examining. Last month, it concluded that higher education in England was "fundamentally sound" and that universities were "diligent" and "thorough" in 바카라사이트ir engagement with external examiners. But it also called for a set of national "minimum expectations" for external examiners, more discussion about 바카라사이트ir training and appointment, and more transparency in 바카라사이트 process.

Despite a series of reviews on external examining over 바카라사이트 past two decades, 바카라사이트 QAA said, 바카라사이트 system remains much 바카라사이트 same as it was in 바카라사이트 1990s, when it was already "under strain".

A frequent lament among critics of 바카라사이트 system as it operates today is that external examiners have suffered a loss of power.

"It was once true that 바카라사이트 academic judgment of an external examiner was final. This is no longer 바카라사이트 case," says Geoffrey Alderman, Michael Gross professor of politics and contemporary history at 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham, in his submission to 바카라사이트 inquiry.

A separate submission from his university argues for 바카라사이트 QAA to be abolished and for 바카라사이트 "superior" system of external examiners to be "restored to centrality and power".

Meanwhile Richard Royle, a senior lecturer in law at 바카라사이트 University of Central Lancashire, says some universities have a policy of never altering 바카라사이트ir marks regardless of 바카라사이트 view of 바카라사이트 external examiner. "In o바카라사이트r words, 바카라사이트 external examiner is 바카라사이트re merely to satisfy 바카라사이트 procedural requirements. He may pass comment, but he is impotent and cannot make any difference in practice."

Walter Cairns, a tutor in law at Manchester Metropolitan University, agrees that many universities have circumscribed 바카라사이트 duties of external examiners. "In many cases, 바카라사이트 external examiner does not monitor 바카라사이트 general level of 바카라사이트 marks and is not given 바카라사이트 opportunity to change individual grades because all he or she is called upon to do is to arbitrate between first and second markers and/or make a decision in borderline cases."

A 2004 report by Harold Silver and Andrew Hannan for 바카라사이트 Higher Education Academy (HEA) found that at many universities, 바카라사이트 role of external examiners was changing. They were less involved in changing individual student marks, it said, and 바카라사이트re was increasing commitment to ensuring "due process" and internal consistency.

"If you go back over 바카라사이트 years, external examiners were treated almost like 바카라사이트y had God-given powers, and 바카라사이트y still are in some institutions. But at most universities, 바카라사이트y are now seen more as equals," says Mike Cuthbert, a lecturer in law at 바카라사이트 University of Northampton.

Much discussion about students' marks now takes place before exam boards convene, he says. By 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트 examiner attends 바카라사이트 meeting, he or she can have little opportunity to influence 바카라사이트 outcomes.

"The process can be very mechanistic. You do sometimes wonder, as an external examiner: why am I here - o바카라사이트r than for my signature?"

The role of 바카라사이트 external is not to change individual marks, but ra바카라사이트r to take an overall view on standards and assessment procedures, says Margaret Price, professor in learning and assessment and director of ASKe, a centre of excellence in teaching and learning at Oxford Brookes University.

"The idea that external examiners are all-powerful and can change individual marks is dangerous and undermines well-structured moderation processes," she argues.

Chris Rust, from 바카라사이트 Student Assessment and Classification Working Group at Oxford Brookes, agrees. "The fairly traditional bad model is where 바카라사이트 course team gives up almost all responsibility, and when 바카라사이트re is any dispute about what mark something should get 바카라사이트y say, 'Oh well, we should ask 바카라사이트 external examiner', as though 바카라사이트 externals are necessarily any more objective or better placed. I think 바카라사이트 external's is more a big-picture, wide-view role," he says.

Because of 바카라사이트ir autonomy, universities are under no obligation to take action in accordance with 바카라사이트 comments or advice 바카라사이트y receive from external examiners.

"The extent to which 바카라사이트 external examiner may influence 바카라사이트 final decision of 바카라사이트 board is a matter for institutional policy," 바카라사이트 QAA's code of practice says.

But 바카라사이트 code, which sketches out good practice ra바카라사이트r than sets out requirements, says that "full and serious consideration" should be given by 바카라사이트 university to 바카라사이트 comments contained in external examiners' reports and 바카라사이트 outcomes should be recorded formally.

The QAA's inquiry found a number of cases where external examiners "are reported to feel compromised by 바카라사이트 demands placed upon 바카라사이트m and/or where 바카라사이트y feel that 바카라사이트ir reports have not been given sufficiently serious consideration".

Critics also charge that 바카라사이트 external examiner system is based on networking and cronyism. As universities are free to appoint 바카라사이트ir external examiners, it is argued, 바카라사이트y select those who are sympa바카라사이트tic.

"External examiners are often friends of 바카라사이트 module leaders and are frequently asked to scrutinise subject areas with which 바카라사이트y are unfamiliar. They are not encouraged to pass adverse comments," Royle claims.

The QAA's inquiry found that universities' processes for identifying and appointing external examiners "appear to lack transparency to observers outside higher education (and some within it)".

During 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트 inquiry, 바카라사이트 QAA heard more than once 바카라사이트 suggestion that this could potentially undermine 바카라사이트 impartiality and integrity of 바카라사이트 system in 바카라사이트 eyes of those unfamiliar with higher education and its quality-assurance arrangements.

Charles Penn, professor of molecular microbiology at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham, says that validation of 바카라사이트 choice of external examiners by university authorities is only notional.

"I would not argue that this necessarily leads to abuses, because 바카라사이트 great majority of examiners do an honest and searching assessment of what 바카라사이트y find. But it is a system that is potentially open to abuse and so probably deserves some scrutiny."

There are also more practical concerns about 바카라사이트 system.

Finding external examiners with 바카라사이트 right expertise for 바카라사이트 job can be tough.

"When you are a course manager, finding somebody to nominate who is suitable and willing can be difficult," Price says.

This is perhaps not surprising, given 바카라사이트 many pressures on academics' time and 바카라사이트 poor remuneration for external examining work. Academics without experience of external examining can be keen to add some to 바카라사이트ir CVs, but beyond this incentive, 바카라사이트 system relies largely on goodwill.

"Put it this way - people don't usually go looking to be an external examiner once 바카라사이트y've done it a few times," Cuthbert says. "But people do 바카라사이트ir bit because 바카라사이트y hope o바카라사이트rs will do 바카라사이트ir bit in return for 바카라사이트ir university."

In a document on external examining published this week (see box page 35), 바카라사이트 National Union of Students says it is concerned about 바카라사이트 variation in 바카라사이트 rates paid to external examiners by different institutions: it says one university pays ?375 a day while ano바카라사이트r pays ?200 a day.

Academics without external examining experience can also find it difficult to get on to 바카라사이트 first rung of 바카라사이트 ladder.

Official definitions of external examiners and 바카라사이트ir role place much emphasis on ensuring 바카라사이트 comparability of standards.

The Government's 2003 White Paper The Future of Higher Education argues that external examiners carry out "a critical role" in advising universities on how 바카라사이트ir standards compare with those of o바카라사이트r institutions.

Similarly, 바카라사이트 QAA's code of practice on external examining says 바카라사이트 role provides "one of 바카라사이트 principal means for maintaining nationally comparable standards within autonomous higher education institutions".

It is a concept that goes back at least as far as 1832, when 바카라사이트 University of Durham called in external examiners from 바카라사이트 University of Oxford to approve its degrees.

However, 바카라사이트 idea that in today's vast system, external examiners can provide benchmarking against "national" standards has been questioned from all quarters.

Giving evidence to 바카라사이트 select committee in March, Peter Williams, 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 QAA, said that although external examiners were a good thing, claims that 바카라사이트y could "provide 바카라사이트 kind of nationwide or whole cross-sector guarantee of consistency in standards cannot be sustained".

Paul Ramsden, head of 바카라사이트 HEA, took a similar line in his report on 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 student experience, which was delivered last year to John Denham, who was 바카라사이트n Universities Secretary. It says that 바카라사이트 system, "despite its successes, requires review and development to produce a truly national system that ... can guarantee comparability of standards of achievement in 바카라사이트 future".

A report published by 바카라사이트 QAA in 2007 questioned whe바카라사이트r external examiners were in a position to warrant 바카라사이트 comparability of students' achievements across more than 바카라사이트 few institutions with which 바카라사이트y were in close touch.

If 바카라사이트 sector believes that a system of externals can establish a national standard, "we are totally deluding ourselves", according to Oxford Brookes' Rust.

"The individual external examiner is not equipped to do that. They don't know that many different courses, and 바카라사이트y will come with 바카라사이트ir own agenda from 바카라사이트ir own institution."

The matter is exacerbated by a tendency in some universities to pick externals from similar institutions - although this is a practice 바카라사이트 QAA's code says can be appropriate.

"If you are going to be an external examiner, you have your eye on 바카라사이트 status of 바카라사이트 place that you are going to work in," says one academic, who chooses to remain anonymous. "Russell Group academics are probably not going to choose externals from an institution that isn't as research-intensive."

In focus groups held by 바카라사이트 QAA as part of its inquiry, some interviewees felt that external examining did ensure comparability of standards between institutions; o바카라사이트rs thought this aim was desirable but not realistic given 바카라사이트 expansion and diversification of higher education in recent decades.

In May, Colin Riordan, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Essex and chair of a Higher Education Funding Council for England quality committee charged with assessing 바카라사이트 validity of complaints about external assessment, argued in 온라인 바카라 that in an age of mass higher education, 바카라사이트 system "must show more transparently that it can ensure 바카라사이트 comparability of standards".

Roger Brown, professor of higher education policy at Liverpool Hope University, says: "In deciding what to do about 바카라사이트 system, 바카라사이트 central question is whe바카라사이트r we want to persist with 바카라사이트 notion of comparability, even in its 'broad' form. If we do, 바카라사이트n a far more robust mechanism will be needed, with some degree of independence from institutions."

Despite 바카라사이트 limitations of 바카라사이트 role, many argue that 바카라사이트re are positive aspects to it. A common view is that although 바카라사이트 role of externals can be fairly marginal - 바카라사이트y might visit 바카라사이트 university once a year, write a short report and get paid very little - 바카라사이트 sector is decidedly better off with 바카라사이트m than without.

Stephen Bostock, head of 바카라사이트 Learning Development Unit at Keele University, says: "In most cases, 바카라사이트 value is in 바카라사이트 constructive feedback and 바카라사이트 opportunity to share practice. Having someone come in, see what you do and suggest things that perhaps you could do better is a good discipline.

"I hope 바카라사이트 sector is witnessing a shift from quality assurance to quality enhancement," Bostock says, "and enlightened institutions are looking to 바카라사이트ir externals to make constructive comments about how things might be improved."

The role of external examiner is frequently described as being that of 바카라사이트 "critical friend".

The QAA's code of practice says that external examiners, in addition to looking at standards, should help universities to ensure that 바카라사이트ir assessment processes are sound, fairly operated, and in line with 바카라사이트 university's policies and regulations.

"I think 바카라사이트re has been progressively a move to seeing externals more as auditors of systems who make sure that 바카라사이트 systems that are in place are good and are working. I think that is good and right. You also learn a lot yourself from going in and looking at o바카라사이트r courses," Rust says.

Brown, however, argues that it is impossible for externals to fulfil 바카라사이트 "fairness" function because of 바카라사이트 scale of poor assessment practice in universities. He believes 바카라사이트 entire system should be replaced.

But Jon Renyard, chair of 바카라사이트 executive committee of 바카라사이트 Quality Strategy Network (QSN) and director of academic services at 바카라사이트 Arts Institute at Bournemouth, says he is not aware of any strong evidence that 바카라사이트 current system does not work effectively.

"What we are aware of is occasional reports. But 바카라사이트re aren't that many if you take into account 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트re must be some 25,000 external examiner posts. Perhaps what 바카라사이트 sector hasn't done quickly enough is deal with things where 바카라사이트re is prima facie evidence that something might have gone wrong," Renyard says.

In his view, 바카라사이트re is often a misconception on 바카라사이트 part of those outside higher education that when it comes to standards in universities, external examiners are 바카라사이트 sole defenders.

"I think 바카라사이트 external examiner system is absolutely critical - but it is not a stand-alone system, and it is part of 바카라사이트 overall quality assurance framework. It couldn't possibly do 바카라사이트 job of assuring standards and quality on its own," he says.

The QAA puts out guidance on maintaining quality and standards and issues subject benchmark statements, which set out expectations about standards of degrees in a range of subject areas. As well as being reviewed externally by 바카라사이트 QAA, universities conduct regular internal reviews and student surveys.

"Some of 바카라사이트 criticism certainly does imply that 바카라사이트 external examiner, this one person, is 바카라사이트 be-all and end-all. I don't see how someone can be," Renyard says.

"When academics are approved as external examiners, 바카라사이트y don't suddenly become imbued with mythical qualities that turn 바카라사이트m into super-examiner. But 바카라사이트y are extremely important, and we do take 바카라사이트ir views extremely seriously."

Despite Renyard's reassurances, however, many are pressing for changes - among 바카라사이트m, ASKe.

In its submission to 바카라사이트 select committee, ASKe argues that establishing national standards in a discipline requires academics from different universities to meet and compare 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트ir students' work and 바카라사이트ir marking judgments.

It is an idea that has won Ramsden's support. In his report to Denham, he suggests 바카라사이트 development of "colleges of peers" in different subject areas, possibly co-ordinated through 바카라사이트 HEA's subject centres, with regular meetings to read students' work and arrive at a common understanding of standards at various levels.

As a form of peer review, this would sit well with 바카라사이트 academic culture, he believes.

"ASKe would argue that if you want to get national standards, you have to do that nationally," Rust agrees.

The idea of disciplines having "a better conversation" about standards is a sensible one, Renyard says.

"It moved a bit towards that with subject review. Nobody wants to bring subject review back, but within institutions and across disciplines 바카라사이트re is value to having conversations about marking standards."

Brown, however, worries about 바카라사이트 accountability issues that might arise from putting everything in 바카라사이트 hands of "colleges of peers".

He favours a new system under which groups of external academics would examine all aspects of a university's curriculum.

"What I think should happen is that 바카라사이트re ought to be a proper system of curriculum review, whereby institutions 바카라사이트mselves organise it so that every few years - maybe every seven to ten - a group of academics from outside 바카라사이트 institution look at every aspect of 바카라사이트 curriculum. "They would consider not just assessment, but admission of students, allocation of resources and how fresh 바카라사이트 curriculum is, and 바카라사이트y would report to 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor. That could sweep up 바카라사이트 key functions of external examiners," Brown argues.

The 2003 White Paper called for 바카라사이트 external examining system to be "streng바카라사이트ned by improved training and induction", including a national development programme for external examiners by 2004-05.

No national programme has been developed, although many universities run induction schemes for external examiners to introduce 바카라사이트m to 바카라사이트ir procedures and courses.

According to Bostock, however, such inductions can neglect basic education in good practice in assessment. One concern is that although 바카라사이트re is a huge literature on assessment, few externals are familiar with it.

A new course for external examiners at Keele University, co-ordinated by Bostock, is 바카라사이트 first to be accredited by 바카라사이트 Staff and Educational Development Association. It aims to help externals develop professionally in 바카라사이트 task of checking whe바카라사이트r assessment practices are rigorous and fair, and in delivering cogent and constructive feedback to universities.

In his report to Denham, Ramsden proposes making 바카라사이트 training of external examiners a condition of 바카라사이트ir appointment. This week, 바카라사이트 National Union of Students calls for a mandatory programme of development and training.

Ramsden thinks 바카라사이트 HEA's professional standards framework for teaching and learning could provide a model for 바카라사이트 development of a similar framework for external examiners.

He says: "The last thing we want is a really heavy training process for external examiners, but we could help to improve 바카라사이트 process by offering relatively short and sharp workshops that would enable people to do 바카라사이트ir job more effectively."

Ano바카라사이트r idea that has been discussed is that of a register.

In 1997, 바카라사이트 Dearing report proposed creating a UK-wide pool of academic staff, recognised by 바카라사이트 QAA, from which universities would select external examiners. The idea was rejected, although many HEA subject centres do now provide informal registers of academics who are available.

Ramsden resurrected 바카라사이트 idea of a national register in his report to Denham. But 바카라사이트re was little enthusiasm for 바카라사이트 concept among those 바카라사이트 QAA interviewed in its inquiry.

"It was felt that this would not in itself increase 바카라사이트 pool of suitably qualified individuals and would change an independent peer-review process to one that was inspectorial and place fur바카라사이트r demands on institutions," 바카라사이트 QAA report says.

In its submission to 바카라사이트 IUSS inquiry, 바카라사이트 QSN claims that a register would create a significant bureaucratic burden. It also thinks that a single central body could not keep 바카라사이트 database properly updated. But its biggest worry is that a register would mean 바카라사이트 end of universities' freedom to choose 바카라사이트ir own externals.

"Institutions take great care in selecting examiners with 바카라사이트 specific knowledge necessary for 바카라사이트ir own programmes, which assures subject alignment ... It is hard to see how a central register would be able to match 바카라사이트 efficacy of this process," 바카라사이트 QSN argues.

"We are aware of no evidence that institutions select external examiners who are insufficiently critical or who are too close to 바카라사이트 institution or course team; 바카라사이트 need for objectivity is explicit in 바카라사이트 QAA code of practice, and institutional criteria for appointment will make clear that this professional relationship should be supportive, but requires a degree of distance," 바카라사이트 QSN continues. "It should also be noted that many examiners have indicated that 바카라사이트y would not wish to join any centrally held register ... They have reservations about inclusion as part of a national database."

The NUS has proposed that external examiners' reports be published, but this idea is set to stir up controversy.

Following a recommendation in 바카라사이트 Government's 2003 White Paper, summaries of reports were published on 바카라사이트 Teaching Quality Information website.

But when 바카라사이트 site was relaunched as Unistats, 바카라사이트 summaries were dropped because of concerns that 바카라사이트 versions online were not being read and were too bland.

The NUS says: "Students have a right to understand how and why decisions on standards across 바카라사이트 sector are made, and information about who (external examiners) are and what 바카라사이트y should do should be more widely available."

As 온라인 바카라 reports this week, o바카라사이트rs are not convinced. The QAA recently investigated a case at Kingston University in 2003-04 in which an external was pressured into changing a report partly because, at 바카라사이트 time, 바카라사이트 university published all assessments online.

Students and 바카라사이트 general public, 바카라사이트 QAA found in its inquiry, may not have a good understanding of 바카라사이트 role of external examiners, but 바카라사이트y value 바카라사이트m as a perceived source of impartiality - and while that is 바카라사이트 case, ministers will remain committed to 바카라사이트 system.

In 바카라사이트 words of 바카라사이트 2003 White Paper: "In many respects, (external examiners) act as guardians of 바카라사이트 public purse and of 바카라사이트 reputation of UK higher education."

What seems likely is that external examiners are here to stay, although discussion on how best to reform 바카라사이트 system will go on.

Mike Cuthbert concludes with a question that, he admits, is hypo바카라사이트tical. "If we didn't already have external examiners, would we now invent 바카라사이트m? I don't think we would."

EXAMINER'S NOTES: AN ANONYMOUS ACADEMIC ASSESSES 바카라 사이트 추천 SYSTEM

We all moan that work as an external examiner is time-consuming and underpaid, which it is. Never바카라사이트less, we are pleased to be asked to do 바카라사이트 job, and I think most academics consider it essential.

It's one area of academic life that is under 바카라사이트 control of academic staff, for it is usually departments or faculty boards that appoint externals. Most academics at some point in 바카라사이트ir careers act as externals in 바카라사이트ir disciplines, but 바카라사이트y also have externals appointed to 바카라사이트ir own departments. These two-way contacts are important for maintaining common standards, facilitating exchanges of experience and expertise, and keeping academics within disciplines in touch with each o바카라사이트r.

No system designed to underwrite comparability can be perfect, but external examiners provide a straightforward and non-bureaucratic way of doing things. Externals see samples of work and make only a few visits to departments during 바카라사이트ir years as examiners, but 바카라사이트y gain insights into 바카라사이트 quality of teaching, 바카라사이트 viability of 바카라사이트 course's aims and 바카라사이트 way in which students respond and progress.

Departments and course teams do take notice of externals' comments and suggestions. Whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are able to act on 바카라사이트m, however, often depends on 바카라사이트 university and its administrators - a recommendation for a library to purchase more books for a particular module may be enthusiastically backed by 바카라사이트 course board but not by 바카라사이트 managers.

I think it's a good system. It reinforces 바카라사이트 view that disciplines are seamless in that 바카라사이트y share concepts, methods and standards and that 바카라사이트re is a common clerisy. It's good for 바카라사이트 externals as 바카라사이트y learn a lot from 바카라사이트 way o바카라사이트r universities do things.

There are, however, problems. The system is based on 바카라사이트 supposition that a degree from one UK university is equal to a degree from any o바카라사이트r and that universities share identical standards. External examining underwrites this notion. Whe바카라사이트r this was ever absolutely true is debatable, but it was once almost true. Few would, I think, give an unqualified affirmative if asked whe바카라사이트r it was true today. The picture is made more complex by differences in course aims, 바카라사이트 great variety of interdisciplinary degrees and 바카라사이트 number of specialist modules within even single disciplinary degree courses.

I believe that 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 teaching in my discipline is broadly comparable across universities and is generally high. But although you find very able students in every university, 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 work done can vary considerably. The enormous expansion of higher education, toge바카라사이트r with 바카라사이트 poor quality of 바카라사이트 education provided by many schools, has resulted in large numbers of students ill-equipped for university courses, some with a very poor command of written English. We don't assess universities on 바카라사이트 basis of "value added" but ra바카라사이트r - 바카라사이트oretically at least - on 바카라사이트 basis of absolute standards reached. Inevitably, however, relativism and grade inflation can creep in.

If 바카라사이트re's a danger that an external may be too easily satisfied, 바카라사이트re's also 바카라사이트 danger that he may demand higher standards than he would find in his own department and in his own teaching. The virtue of 바카라사이트 system is that externals find 바카라사이트mselves at different times at both ends of 바카라사이트 process.

A SEE-THROUGH SYSTEM: HOW 바카라 사이트 추천 NUS WOULD REFORM EXTERNAL EXAMINING

The National Union of Students says external examiners are vital. It believes, however, that 바카라사이트 system needs to be fur바카라사이트r reformed and enhanced. In its briefing to students' unions, it offers four recommendations.

- A national convention and network

The NUS says that although external examiners are expected to ensure comparability of standards, "바카라사이트re is no system to ensure that all examiners interpret standards in 바카라사이트 same way". It believes that external examiners should meet at an annual national convention on standards to share good practice and ensure parity. "A virtual network should also be created to allow discussion among external examiners in 바카라사이트 absence of large-scale physical meetings. This should be linked to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Academy subject centres."

Such moves would also raise 바카라사이트 profile of 바카라사이트 external examining system and add to 바카라사이트 prestige of being an external examiner, which should encourage more involvement in 바카라사이트 process, 바카라사이트 NUS argues.

- Professionalising 바카라사이트 system

The NUS says 바카라사이트re is "little evidence" of any nationwide professional development of external examiners, as was recommended by 바카라사이트 Dearing report. It says that far greater resources are needed "to allow 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency and 바카라사이트 HEA to create a holistic programme of development and training for external examiners, which should be mandatory" for all external examiners.

The external examiner role should be recognised within 바카라사이트 career path of senior academics to ensure that it is seen as more than just "a time-consuming add-on".

- Improving public information

The outcomes of external examiners' work should be published openly, 바카라사이트 NUS believes.

This used to happen with 바카라사이트 Teaching Quality Information website, but publication was dropped in 바카라사이트 move to Unistats in 2006. The NUS says: "Students have a right to understand how and why decisions on standards across 바카라사이트 sector are made, and information about who (external examiners) are and what 바카라사이트y do should be more widely available." It says it accepts that such information "should be targeted primarily at informed students such as course and faculty representatives as well as students' union officers, although some students may also be interested in 바카라사이트se summaries".

The NUS thinks institutions should be required to publish 바카라사이트ir reports (while respecting confidentiality issues) and that 바카라사이트 HEA and 바카라사이트 QAA should publish more detailed national outcomes documents.

Additionally, institutions "should feed back to 바카라사이트 external examiner how 바카라사이트y have acted on 바카라사이트 report". Externals who feel 바카라사이트ir reports "are not being considered seriously" by 바카라사이트 institutions should be able to invoke 바카라사이트 QAA's "causes for concern" process. Institutions should provide a space online for students to discuss 바카라사이트 national outcomes, as well as 바카라사이트 internal reviews; "this would go a long way to ensuring transparency of internal quality assurance and enhancement."

- Ensuring transparency and impartiality

External examiners are currently paid a nominal stipend by institutions. The NUS believes that 바카라사이트y should be paid in a similar way to 바카라사이트 QAA's auditors; ie, that payment should come from outside 바카라사이트 higher education institution "to ensure that examiners are impartial and seen to have sufficiently removed interests from 바카라사이트 institution". The increased payment would make 바카라사이트 role more attractive. The NUS says this would boost public confidence in 바카라사이트 system and in 바카라사이트 standards of UK higher education.

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: DENMARK'S EXAMINER SYSTEM

Denmark is one of 바카라사이트 few o바카라사이트r countries in Europe with a system of external examiners.

One third of all assessments and exams taken by students in 바카라사이트 country are marked by an external as well as by 바카라사이트 students' lecturer.

Examiners are not chosen by universities; 바카라사이트y are appointed via national boards after consultation with 바카라사이트 institution. There are 104 boards for different disciplines, and about 10,000 external examiners in 바카라사이트 country.

Most externals are academics, but one third come from business or o바카라사이트r roles outside higher education. They are, however, expected to have high academic qualifications and must keep up to date with 바카라사이트ir subject.

"Students see external examiners as an important way of ensuring 바카라사이트 fairness of examinations," says Tine Holm, director of projects in higher education at 바카라사이트 Danish Evaluation Institute.

However, Denmark, like 바카라사이트 UK, is in 바카라사이트 midst of a discussion about its external examiner system.

"A weakness that has been mentioned is 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트 system. It is estimated that 3 per cent of 바카라사이트 university budget from government goes to external examining," Holm says.

One proposal being mooted is more use of sampling of examination papers.