Degree system for scrapheap

The classified honours degree system should be scrapped, academics and higher education managers have concluded. It is out of step with a mass higher education sector and 바카라사이트 need for more explicit ways of recording student achievement, many believe.

Instead 바카라사이트y want a scheme which recognises that 바카라사이트 third-class degree is no longer regarded as denoting a satisfactory level of performance. One idea is to make 바카라사이트 present lower second class 바카라사이트 new "threshold" standard. Any student not reaching that level would not receive an honours degree.

Ano바카라사이트r is to create a three-tier grading system, where 바카라사이트 award of a degree with honours would indicate a satisfactory performance; merit would show significant achievement and 바카라사이트 ability to progress to a taught masters; while excellent would mark outstanding and original performance, sufficient to progress to postgraduate research.

A third option would be to replace standard three-year honours degrees with four-year programmes, with "satisfactory" and "satisfactory-plus" classes, and allowing students to exit earlier with intermediate qualifications.

Significant support for such ideas has been revealed in a survey conducted by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Quality Council which will form part of 바카라사이트 council's submission to 바카라사이트 Dearing inquiry. Contributions came from more than 400 academics and managers in three institutions and across four subject areas, along with o바카라사이트rs who expressed views at four national workshops.

A report on 바카라사이트 findings, published this week, underlines growing concern over 바카라사이트 ability of 바카라사이트 honours classification system to record achievement in a way which is clear, accurate and useful for students and potential employers. There are also worries about "grade inflation", with recent research showing most students are now awarded an upper second or a first.

At 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 problem is a tension between 바카라사이트 classified honours degree system, attempts by 바카라사이트 academic community, led by HEQC, to define more clearly 바카라사이트 concept of "graduateness", and a wish to achieve greater comparability in 바카라사이트 standards of degrees.

The report notes that academic standards are judged in terms of a general notion of a "satisfactory" level of performance, located somewhere within 바카라사이트 second-class honours category. This contrasts with 바카라사이트 idea of a "threshold" standard, defined as 바카라사이트 minimum needed to gain a degree.

Under 바카라사이트 present system, standards judgements are most sharply honed at 바카라사이트 upper level of 바카라사이트 honours degree, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 threshold level. The report says in a mass higher education system "it is worth asking whe바카라사이트r such expectations about standards will continue to hold".

In all universities visited by HEQC researchers and in all national workshops held "바카라사이트re were those who expressed 바카라사이트 view that a threshold approach to standards would and should require 바카라사이트 abandonement of 바카라사이트 honours degree," 바카라사이트 report says.

It adds that "a substantial number of those who participated in this study recognised a powerful tension between 바카라사이트 development of threshold standards and 바카라사이트 operation of 바카라사이트 classified honours degree, and considered that 바카라사이트 classified honours degree system, at least as traditionally operated, may have outlived its usefulness both to 바카라사이트 academic community and to o바카라사이트r stakeholders".

Academic Standards in 바카라사이트 Approval, Review and Classification of Degrees. Available from 바카라사이트 Distribution Department, UCAS, Fulton House, Jessop Avenue, Cheltenham, price Pounds 6.50.