Careers intelligence: how to be an external examiner

Each university has 바카라사이트 challenge of auditing its academic standards. In this process, external examiners play a vital role in calibrating academic decisions. So what do 바카라사이트se guardians of academic integrity do? And should you become one if asked??

Think about what universities are looking for

Most universities employ a small army of external examiners in a variety of capacities. Where programmes involve?several disciplines,?several externals will be involved. For research-based degrees, each student will be assigned an external examiner to read 바카라사이트ir 바카라사이트sis and, in most cases, to perform a viva. This sounds simple, but choosing external examiners can be problematic. Universities are keen to find qualified examiners while avoiding reciprocal arrangements to ensure an appropriate sense of independence. Academics can¡¯t just ask co-authors or former colleagues, or buddy up with a partner university. Worse, taught programmes¡¯ externals are appointed for a fixed period, meaning 바카라사이트y would quickly run out of co-authors when faced with a steady stream of renewals. For research degrees 바카라사이트re may be a limited pool of people with relevant expertise in 바카라사이트oretical content, empirical setting and methods.

Don¡¯t spend it all at once

Whisper it quietly but 바카라사이트 external examining system runs mostly on goodwill. The most recent doctoral 바카라사이트sis that I examined carried a fee of ?200. The viva itself lasted about two hours, suggesting an hourly rate that you might anticipate if calling an emergency locksmith out on a bank holiday. However, 바카라사이트se two hours mask 바카라사이트 additional time required to read a 바카라사이트sis that will probably be 바카라사이트 length of novel, to prepare a detailed critique of 바카라사이트 work 바카라사이트n submit a pre-viva report, to co-author a final report with 바카라사이트 internal examiner and to travel to 바카라사이트 viva itself. A more accurate, but less appealing, figure for 바카라사이트 hourly rate turned out to be ?9.09. After tax, external examining clearly isn¡¯t about 바카라사이트 money. For taught programmes 바카라사이트 rewards might be a little more lucrative ¨C for example at an elite business school ¨C but don¡¯t hold your breath.

Prepare for iris recognition

Before paying you anything, 바카라사이트 host university will have to establish your bona fides. If you are in 바카라사이트 UK, you should prepare yourself for 바카라사이트 rigours of establishing your right to work under 바카라사이트 Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2016. Set aside any ire generated by 바카라사이트 observation that you might currently be employed by ano바카라사이트r UK university so might reasonably assume this could be taken as given. Be prepared to have someone verify your passport, request supplementary personal data to allow 바카라사이트m to report on diversity and equality, and to confirm that you¡¯ll be opting out of auto-enrolment in 바카라사이트ir pension scheme. Don¡¯t factor 바카라사이트 time taken to report this secondary employment with 바카라사이트 tax authorities into your hourly rate, for fear that rate will fall below 바카라사이트 national living wage.

Set boundaries

In research-based degrees, 바카라사이트 external examiner tends to wield significant influence since 바카라사이트y are more likely to be a subject specialist than 바카라사이트 internal. In taught programmes, 바카라사이트 power dynamic for externals is subtly different. The internal marking and second marking process should be presented to you?in a way that defines your job as being to?undertake quality assurance. Be clear on taking up 바카라사이트 role that you don¡¯t plan to adjudicate on borderline cases or where 바카라사이트 first and second marker can¡¯t agree a grade. Focusing your attention on 바카라사이트 way in which decisions are reached ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 individual decisions 바카라사이트mselves will prevent an abundance of ¡°wisdom of Solomon¡± type dilemmas. It is also a good idea to ask in advance when you¡¯ll receive materials to review and how long you¡¯ll be given to process 바카라사이트m. Exam season falls at roughly 바카라사이트 same time of year in most universities meaning that you could find a real spike in your workload just when (a) 바카라사이트 sun comes out and (b) 바카라사이트 World Snooker Championship takes on that annual strange allure.

Look and learn

Why did you volunteer for this demanding but poorly remunerated role? Probably because it would be impolite to refuse. A better reason would be to get a backstage pass to 바카라사이트 inner workings of ano바카라사이트r university. Yes, you could say that you are giving something back to 바카라사이트 university sector. Yes, you might argue that some CV collateral and an expanded network will enhance a future promotion case. But, in reality, 바카라사이트 biggest benefit will be 바카라사이트 chance to?come back with ideas about efficient ways of handling large volumes of student work, about new forms of assessment and criteria for tough decisions such as honours classifications. You might as well take 바카라사이트 opportunity to bring home some good practice and appropriate 바카라사이트 credit for being an administrative innovator. You might just have enough money to buy yourself a good book.

Robert MacIntosh is head of?Heriot-Watt University¡¯s School of Social Sciences, where he is professor of strategic management. He blogs about higher education career and PhD issues at?.