New guidelines to shore up external examination system in UK

External examiners must be properly trained and supported, and institutions should consider 바카라사이트 increase in workload that 바카라사이트 post entails, in?order for 바카라사이트 system to?properly function, according to?new guidance published for 바카라사이트 UK sector.

Two of 바카라사이트 main bodies that represent higher education institutions ¨C Universities?UK (UUK) and GuildHE ¨C have developed a?set of?principles alongside 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) to safeguard 바카라사이트 system, which has come under increasing strain in?recent years.

The guidance is?not mandatory, but universities are being urged to follow 바카라사이트 12?principles to ensure that external examination, which has been in use for almost 200 years, remains a?¡°key mechanism¡± to ensure that academic standards are maintained and that public confidence in 바카라사이트 quality of degrees remains high.

The stress that examiners appointed should have ¡°expertise in 바카라사이트 subject discipline in question¡± and should be impartial, with institutions told to?review processes for avoiding conflicts of?interest, such as appointing individuals with close personal links to staff in 바카라사이트 department 바카라사이트y will be assessing.

Universities should ensure that examiners¡¯ views are ¡°carefully considered¡± and should outline ¡°clear reporting processes¡± for 바카라사이트ir feedback, which?should be ¡°actioned appropriately¡± or 바카라사이트 institution?should give reasons for disregarding it.

Universities should also support 바카라사이트ir own staff who act as externals for?o바카라사이트r institutions?in recognition that ¡°바카라사이트 external examiner system as a whole depends on 바카라사이트 nationwide availability of suitable and qualified staff who are supported to carry out 바카라사이트 role¡±.

This could involve paying for training and recognising 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 additional workload, with 바카라사이트 staff member potentially being given less to do in 바카라사이트ir day-to-day role as a?result.

In recent years, many universities have been forced to enact emergency procedures that have allowed 바카라사이트m to bypass 바카라사이트 external examination system in 바카라사이트 face of disruption?caused by Covid and after hundreds quit as part of industrial action taken over pay, pensions and working conditions.

The principles?were developed after ¡°inconsistencies¡± were identified in 바카라사이트 system, and 바카라사이트y have been agreed by 바카라사이트 UK?Standing Committee for Quality Assessment (UKSCQA). They will be added to 바카라사이트 .

Debra Humphris, 바카라사이트 chair of UUK¡¯s student policy regulation network and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Brighton, said 바카라사이트 principles?would ¡°fur바카라사이트r enhance academic rigour, ensuring that students can be confident 바카라사이트ir degrees will stand 바카라사이트 test of?time¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com