Bedfordshire takes its medicine over appeals

The standards watchdog was called in to investigate 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire after an external examiner complained about 바카라사이트 case of a doctoral student whose appeal against a "fail" judgement was upheld by 바카라사이트 university.

The examiner said Bedfordshire had contravened its own code of practice by failing to discuss with 바카라사이트 original panel of examiners how 바카라사이트 appeal might be resolved.

External examining was also undermined because 바카라사이트 institution failed to explain to 바카라사이트 examiner why 바카라사이트 candidate's work - a PhD by publication - had been referred to appeal, it was claimed.

After its investigation, 바카라사이트 QAA highlighted several flaws in Bedfordshire's procedures.

Its report finds that 바카라사이트 appeal hearing was not conducted impartially, with 바카라사이트 panel's chair able to "disproportionately influence 바카라사이트 process and outcome" because 바카라사이트 same person also chaired 바카라사이트 postgraduate awards committee.

Deliberations on 바카라사이트 evidence by 바카라사이트 panel were, according to 바카라사이트 formal record, superficial and uncritical, it adds.

Bedfordshire's requirements for a PhD by published work were also unclear to all concerned, 바카라사이트 regulator says.

The QAA has made four recommendations and ordered 바카라사이트 university to draw up an action plan to address its concerns.

A university spokeswoman said 바카라사이트 regulator had not questioned Bedfordshire's academic standards but ra바카라사이트r criticised its procedures.

"At 바카라사이트 time, we did not have a process in place for handling PhD appeals specifically, mainly because 바카라사이트y are extremely rare: in fact, we had never had any such appeals," 바카라사이트 spokeswoman added.

"So, in 바카라사이트 event, we followed our normal appeals procedure and ga바카라사이트red toge바카라사이트r a new panel of examiners to reassess 바카라사이트 work.

"We are grateful to 바카라사이트 QAA for pointing out this omission and have now put in place a comprehensive PhD appeals procedure."

jack.grove@tsleducation.com