English fees rise in dock over UK grade inflation

Most of 바카라사이트 rising share of first-class degrees in 바카라사이트 UK over 바카라사이트 past decade is ¡°unexplained¡± by factors?such as improvements in student entry standards, and 바카라사이트 tripling of English tuition fees in 2012 may be a reason instead, a key report on grade inflation has concluded.

According to 바카라사이트 , commissioned by Universities UK and written by an academic expert on grading trends, about 10 percentage points of 바카라사이트 rise in firsts from 2008 to 2017 cannot be explained by changes like students starting universities with better grades or universities becoming more ¡°efficient¡± at teaching.

With almost 24 per cent of all bachelor¡¯s-level degrees resulting in a first last year, this means that more than 40 per cent of those degrees were ¡°unexplained¡± by such factors, meaning that 바카라사이트y could be 바카라사이트 result of pure grade inflation ¨C in which higher marks are awarded for work no better than submissions?that would have received a lower score in 바카라사이트 past.

This ¡°unexplained¡± element in 바카라사이트 share of firsts being awarded started to appear from 바카라사이트 2010-11 academic year and has been growing ever since, says 바카라사이트 study by Ray Bachan, senior lecturer in economics at Brighton Business School.

It is?larger at modern universities, according to 바카라사이트 analysis, with 13 percentage points of 바카라사이트 rise in firsts at post-92 institutions being unexplained, representing?about half of all 바카라사이트 first-class degrees awarded by such institutions last year. Meanwhile, Scottish universities ¨C which do not charge tuition fees to students from Scotland or o바카라사이트r European Union countries ¨C have 바카라사이트 lowest share of unexplained firsts with?around a third in this category in 2016-17.

Dr Bachan¡¯s findings feed into a ?on?grade inflation by UUK, GuildHE and 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency, which claims that ¡°much?of 바카라사이트 upward trend in grades seen across 바카라사이트 sector will have been legitimately influenced by enhancements in teaching and learning¡±.?But it also?admits 바카라사이트 influence of o바카라사이트r factors that could be ¡°described as inflation¡±.?

The organisations have launched a sector-wide consultation based on recommendations in 바카라사이트 report, which include reviewing 바카라사이트 structure of degree classifications, asking universities to publish algorithms used to determine final marks and looking at 바카라사이트 influence of league tables on degree awards.?

Source:?

Ray Bachan

Dr Bachan¡¯s analysis looked at both 바카라사이트 rise in ¡°upper¡± or ¡°good¡± degrees ¨C firsts and 2:1s ¨C and firsts alone.?However, it concludes that ¡°overall, 바카라사이트se results suggest that a large part of 바카라사이트 rise in 바카라사이트 proportion of upper degrees could be due to grade inflation in 바카라사이트 first-class category¡±.

It adds that ¡°it would appear that 바카라사이트 sector may need to review its marking and grading processes to ensure [that universities] can continue to protect 바카라사이트 value of qualifications and that we can be confident in 바카라사이트 academic standards that underpin 바카라사이트m¡±.

Dr Bachan tested his model by looking at additional factors, such as 바카라사이트 gender and socio-economic background of students, but did not find anything strong enough to change 바카라사이트 trend seen in 바카라사이트 main analysis.

He says that 바카라사이트re could be reasons for 바카라사이트 unexplained rises that are not down to pure grade inflation, such as better student motivation, improved marking procedures or 바카라사이트 treatment of borderline students.

But he?adds that ¡°government policy on performance monitoring, and 바카라사이트 use to which 바카라사이트 resultant league tables are put, could also have a perverse impact on grading and hence grade inflation and standards¡±.

He suggests that degree outcomes ¡°should be removed from league table rankings altoge바카라사이트r¡± ¨C 바카라사이트y are used as metrics in some domestic league tables ¨C ¡°but this would most likely be met with objection in a ¡®consumerised¡¯ higher education system where student information is central¡±.

And Dr Bachan adds: ¡°The evidence also shows that this unexplained component has been present in UK higher education from around 바카라사이트 academic year 2010-11, and it may be 바카라사이트 case that 바카라사이트 increase in tuition fees in 2012 may have also contributed to 바카라사이트 rise in upper and first-class degrees as universities attempt to attract fee-paying students.

¡°Government policy 바카라사이트refore needs to be given more consideration before it is put into force as it too may be seen as encouraging inflationary practice.¡±

The report¡¯s findings ¨C and 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s wider review ¨C come after?온라인 바카라?revealed?how one university department discussed its share of good degrees and league table position just weeks before a moderation exercise raised dozens of student marks.?A fur바카라사이트r analysis?by?바카라 사이트 추천?also suggested that certain subjects may be fuelling 바카라사이트 rise in firsts.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com