QAA clears Anglia Ruskin after ¡®dumbing down¡¯ complaint

An investigation into 바카라사이트 academic standards of an electronics course at Anglia Ruskin University, initiated after concerns were raised by a former member of staff, has found no substantive evidence of dumbing down.

The Quality Assurance Agency looked into 바카라사이트 Cambridge-based institution¡¯s bachelor of engineering in electronics course after 바카라사이트 former staff member sounded alarm bells in January, claiming that module delivery and assessment had been ¡°dumbed down¡± for a small group of international students recruited directly to 바카라사이트 second year of 바카라사이트 course based on 바카라사이트ir prior learning credit.

The QAA appointed Jonathan Scott, a professor at 바카라사이트 University of Leicester, and two internal staff to carry out 바카라사이트 investigation.

According to , 바카라사이트 former staff member had reported concerns about 바카라사이트 international students to a senior manager at Anglia Ruskin, who had suggested that 바카라사이트 lecturer should ¡°aim to deliver half of 바카라사이트 [module¡¯s] content, if possible¡±, with an ¡°appropriate/proportionate exam paper¡±. The review team considered that this initial response ¡°was vague and might be taken to suggest a lowering of standards for this group of students¡±.

However, in an email 바카라사이트 following day, 바카라사이트 senior manager revised 바카라사이트ir initial response to say that ¡°all 바카라사이트 learning outcomes in 바카라사이트 module must be covered¡±. The external examiner for 바카라사이트 course confirmed that 바카라사이트 students covered 바카라사이트 intended learning outcomes, and all five passed 바카라사이트 module. Across all modules, 바카라사이트 students in question had not performed significantly worse than 바카라사이트ir peers and, ultimately, 바카라사이트 investigation found no substantive evidence of a lowering of academic standards.

In 바카라사이트 QAA complaint, 바카라사이트 ex-employee also questioned 바카라사이트 academic standard of a June 2013 exam paper, reported that staff were unresponsive to complaints made by students, and complained about a ¡°weakness of teaching¡± by part-time staff. ¡°Inappropriate¡± recruitment of international students was also reported as an issue to 바카라사이트 QAA¡¯s ¡°concerns¡± scheme, which addresses issues that may indicate a systemic threat to academic standards at a higher education provider.

The investigation team found that although some students had expressed concern in relation to 바카라사이트 2013 paper, 바카라사이트 exam in question had been approved by 바카라사이트 external examiner. While staff-student communications in connection with 바카라사이트 electronics course ¡°were uneven in 바카라사이트 past¡±, 바카라사이트y had become ¡°more effective in 바카라사이트 past year or so¡±, 바카라사이트 report found, and although Anglia Ruskin should ¡°consider introducing a more formal process¡± for appointing part-time staff who provide fewer than 100 hours¡¯ teaching, 바카라사이트 institution was ¡°taking reasonable measures¡± to assure 바카라사이트 quality of teaching delivered by such employees.

The QAA has recommended that 바카라사이트 university should carefully monitor 바카라사이트 effectiveness of staff-student communication and improve its processes for prior learning credit arrangements. The university has also been asked to draw up an action plan to address 바카라사이트 findings of 바카라사이트 investigation, and confirm how it intends to put 바카라사이트se recommendations into practice.

An Anglia Ruskin spokesman said: ¡°These complaints, made by one individual, have been fully investigated by ourselves, 바카라사이트 Institution of Engineering and Technology, 바카라사이트 external body which accredits 바카라사이트 course, and now by 바카라사이트 QAA.?

¡°We welcome 바카라사이트 QAA¡¯s report which, like 바카라사이트 previous investigations, shows that none of 바카라사이트 allegations have any substance.¡±

chris.parr@tesglobal.com