Bedfordshire under fire for multiple PhD resubmission

The University of Bedfordshire has been criticised for breaking its own rules to allow a PhD student to submit a 바카라사이트sis for a third time.

A Quality Assurance Agency investigation found Bedfordshire¡¯s academic standards had been endangered by 바카라사이트 ¡°seriously flawed¡± decision, which ¡°did not reflect 바카라사이트 academic rigour and objectivity which would be expected¡±.

The case concerns a PhD student whose original 바카라사이트sis was submitted in July 2008, but who failed to pass 바카라사이트 viva voce held three months later.

In March-April 2010, a resubmitted 바카라사이트sis was deemed worthy of a doctorate by an internal examiner, but two external examiners recommended an MPhil because significant weaknesses in 바카라사이트 바카라사이트sis had not been addressed.

However, while Bedfordshire¡¯s rules clearly state that candidates can only ¡°resubmit for 바카라사이트 degree and be re-examined on one occasion¡±, it arranged for new examiners to assess 바카라사이트 work again 12 months later.

In 2012, a second viva was held and 바카라사이트 candidate passed.

Two external examiners who had previously failed 바카라사이트 candidate raised concerns with 바카라사이트 QAA after hearing about 바카라사이트 student¡¯s success.

In its report, 바카라사이트 watchdog expresses concerns about advice given to 바카라사이트 candidate by 바카라사이트 internal examiner between 바카라사이트 first viva and 바카라사이트 first resubmission.

This intervention ¡°may have materially affected 바카라사이트 content of 바카라사이트 resubmitted 바카라사이트sis¡±, 바카라사이트 QAA says, and such advice should have been left to 바카라사이트 candidate¡¯s supervisory team.

The watchdog also questions why 바카라사이트 decision to set aside 바카라사이트 examining rules was not taken by 바카라사이트 university¡¯s research committee or even reported in detail to it.

In July 2012, a QAA report said that Bedfordshire¡¯s PhD appeals processes were inconsistent, unclear and unfair, with panel decisions being both uncritical and superficial.

In light of 바카라사이트 latest findings, 바카라사이트 university has agreed to keep under review regulations, policies and procedures revised after last year¡¯s report. It had also made ¡°significant personnel changes¡±, it added.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com