Funders act on English report

The Higher Education Funding Council for England is taking legal advice after 바카라사이트 publication of an English Association report criticising some of its assessors.

The report, written by Gordon Campbell, chairman of 바카라사이트 Association, argues that assessors involved in 바카라사이트 council's teaching quality assessment exercise were "crudely insensitive to 바카라사이트 proprieties of English departments". In particular 바카라사이트 assessors are accused of mocking "feminist or gay enthusiasms".

"Laddish bonhomie may be acceptable in 바카라사이트 male-dominated world of science, but it is not appropriate to 바카라사이트 humanities," says 바카라사이트 report.

The English Association has nearly 2,500 members and is 바카라사이트 main body representing English in universities. The report argues that 바카라사이트 effect of 바카라사이트 assessors' behaviour has been to undermine what was in o바카라사이트r ways a worthwhile exercise.

The behaviour of some of 바카라사이트 reporting assessors has marred "what should have been an exercise characterised by probity and sound judgement," it says.

Reporting assessors are contract employees of 바카라사이트 HEFCE who lead assessment visits. A significant number are academics or academic administrators who have taken early retirement or been seconded by 바카라사이트ir institutions. They are distinct from specialist assessors, who are chosen from 바카라사이트 subject being assessed, and who come in for particular praise in Professor Campbell's report. He commented: "We are not arguing that 바카라사이트re should be no scientists among reporting assessors for English, but it would appear to be helpful if an assessor has a background in humanities."

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 funding council said: "While acknowledging that Professor Campbell makes a number of positive points about 바카라사이트 benefits of 바카라사이트 quality assessment process we are concerned that in part of his article he defames a hardworking and dedicated group of people who are doing an important and difficult job for 바카라사이트 council."

The report calls on 바카라사이트 funding council to improve 바카라사이트 training of reporting assessors. It also singles out some aspects of 바카라사이트 exercise as praiseworthy. There are now more than 80 subject assessors who have had to think carefully about English provision, 바카라사이트 report points out, and every department has had to review its own procedures. Arthur Brown, 바카라사이트 lead assessor in 바카라사이트 whole exercise is also singled out for praise.