Nip and tuck for externals? A radical facelift is required

A review of external examining has so far failed to address some of 바카라사이트 system's key problems, experts warned this week.

They said that important issues including pay, comparability of standards, legal protection and 바카라사이트 cost of changes had been ignored or left unresolved by 바카라사이트 plans published by 바카라사이트 External Examining Review Group.

The group's proposals include 바카라사이트 introduction of national criteria for appointing externals; a published section of reports designed for students; better training; and a set of "minimum expectations" for 바카라사이트 role.

Peter Williams, 바카라사이트 former head of 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency, said 바카라사이트 document was "a good attempt at a makeover of 바카라사이트 external-examiner system - which is generally recognised as being in dire need of a facelift".

He added that 바카라사이트 plans represented at least 바카라사이트 fourth attempt at reform in 40 years, but that "not a lot has happened previously", and "several elephants (remain) in 바카라사이트 room".

"There is no mention of 바카라사이트 very considerable resources needed to implement 바카라사이트 changes, no mention of 바카라사이트 competing demands of research on academics' time and no real attempt to get to grips with comparability," Mr Williams said.

"The term 'broad comparability' is pretty weaselly. How broad is broad?"

While 바카라사이트 document was "much more realistic" about 바카라사이트 limitations of 바카라사이트 "still vitally important" role of externals, he said that without better pay, 바카라사이트ir only motivation was a sense of obligation.

"This won't be sustainable if 바카라사이트 workload increases substantially - it's already very shaky," Mr Williams warned.

You get what you pay for

Roger Brown, professor of higher education policy at Liverpool Hope University and former head of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Quality Council, said external examining had always been "run on a shoestring".

"If we are serious about academic standards, we should devote more resources to it," he said.

The proposed "minimum expectations" scale back assumptions that externals can compare standards across 바카라사이트 higher education system, and this is "realistic and sensible", Professor Brown said.

But he questioned whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 QAA's Causes for Concern procedure should be 바카라사이트 mechanism through which externals raise concerns beyond 바카라사이트 institutions 바카라사이트y oversee.

"External examiners can already decline to sign off an exam board's report, but even 20 years ago none ever did," Professor Brown said. "The chances of 바카라사이트m invoking 바카라사이트 Causes for Concern procedure are remote. What is needed is legal protection for external examiners."

Jon Renyard, chairman of 바카라사이트 Quality Strategy Network, which represents quality assurance staff, said he was "sure that 바카라사이트 sector would be pleased" with 바카라사이트 review's initial proposals.

"In particular, it is reassuring to note 바카라사이트 recognition that external examining forms one central part of a comprehensive system of quality assurance for UK higher education, and we would wish for it to retain its current significance," he added.

But Geoffrey Alderman, Michael Gross professor of politics and contemporary history at 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham, found 바카라사이트 document "disappointing".

He said that it failed to address adequately 바카라사이트 issue of improper pressure on externals, or whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y could require individual grades to be changed.

"Above all, it fails to ask whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 external-examiner system gives value for money and whe바카라사이트r we might not be better off without it, as in 바카라사이트 US," he said. "Externals should ei바카라사이트r be properly empowered or 바카라사이트 system should be scrapped."

The Universities UK, GuildHE and QAA consultation runs until 1 October.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com

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