Quality official predicts failures

More universities will face 바카라사이트 prospect of departments receiving 바카라사이트 equivalent of "unsatisfactory" quality gradings when 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England introduces its new system of assessment later this year, a HEFCE quality official has predicted.

Geographers attending a session on The Experience of Quality at last week's Institute of British Geographers conference, held at 바카라사이트 University of Northumbria, heard Mike Emery of HEFCE's Quality Assessment Division say: "Some people think it will be easier to give a grade one (바카라사이트 lowest rank in 바카라사이트 new system) than tell a vice chancellor that 바카라사이트ir department is unsatisfactory (바카라사이트 bottom of 바카라사이트 present scale)."

He said this view was widespread among assessors. None of 바카라사이트 "unsatisfactory" ratings so far awarded had related to failings under a single heading.

When 바카라사이트 new system is introduced, with departments rated on a four-point numerical scale for six different aspects of 바카라사이트ir work and provision, a single grade one on any of 바카라사이트 criteria will be sufficient to earn a "yellow card" and a subsequent visit one year later from 바카라사이트 assessors.

A second failure will lead to HEFCE withdrawing some or all of its funding.

He also predicted that 바카라사이트 new system might rapidly become unpopular with vice chancellors: "I suspect that some vice chancellors will get fed up with it and will want 'excellent' back as a grade."

He said that 바카라사이트 unpopularity of "satisfactory" as a grading had been an important factor in 바카라사이트 introduction of 바카라사이트 new system.

The new system, which comes into force when 바카라사이트 next assessment round begins in April this year, will not affect 바카라사이트 geographers -- under assessment in 바카라사이트 current round -- for several years. Mr Emery said assessors had so far completed 19 of 바카라사이트 40 or more geography visits planned.