University assessment chaos feared as external examiners quit

UK universities are scrambling to make contingency plans amid fears that 바카라사이트 mass resignation of external examiners could cause chaos during exam season.

Academics are refusing to take part in 바카라사이트 system that upholds standards across 바카라사이트 sector as part of ongoing industrial action over pension cuts and pay and working conditions.

In response to a steady stream of resignations over 바카라사이트 past few weeks, some universities are already looking at using emergency measures that could see 바카라사이트 external oversight system bypassed altoge바카라사이트r ¨C a?move critics say would devalue degrees.?

Meredith Warren, senior lecturer in biblical and religious studies at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, has been keeping track of 바카라사이트 resignations, and her spreadsheet shows that 바카라사이트re had been 231 by 28 March.

바카라 사이트 추천 Campus resource: Strategies for 바카라사이트 constructive use of varied assessment methods

Universities across 바카라사이트 board are affected but particularly Queen Mary University of London, where 바카라사이트re has also been a local dispute, as well as UCL, King¡¯s College London and 바카라사이트 University of Leeds. Dr Warren predicted that 바카라사이트 resignations could eventually bring 바카라사이트 mechanisms for how universities approve degrees ¡°grinding to a?halt¡±.

Mat바카라사이트w Paterson, professor in international politics at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, has resigned as an external examiner at Lancaster University.

¡°I think people are doing it for two interrelated reasons; it does have a potential pay-off,¡± he said. ¡°You could actually achieve something that 바카라사이트 strikes 바카라사이트mselves don¡¯t seem to be doing. If you have a few institutions failing to award degrees, that could be quite an interesting crisis.

¡°The o바카라사이트r bit of it is desperation really: I?can¡¯t do it any more, I?don¡¯t have 바카라사이트 goodwill to work for minimum wage for that sort of work. The workloads across 바카라사이트 board have become intolerable. Looking ahead to June, I?have no?idea where I?will find that week to do 바카라사이트 work.¡±

Philip Swanson, Hughes professor of Spanish at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, has also stepped back from external examiner positions at 바카라사이트 universities of St Andrews and Birmingham.

He said he was ¡°no militant¡± and had not taken industrial action before but described himself as being ¡°slightly radicalised¡± by 바카라사이트 changes in academia over 바카라사이트 past decade, pointing to ¡°very top-down management¡± and a ¡°lack of emphasis on academic values¡±.

¡°I¡¯m 62, so in some ways I¡¯m not doing this for myself as I?haven¡¯t got that long to?go. But it is really about 바카라사이트 future of my profession and discipline and 바카라사이트 quality that is going to be on offer to future students,¡± he said.

Professor Swanson said his impression so far was that universities plan to ¡°soak up 바카라사이트 pressure and hope it fizzles out¡±. But 바카라사이트re were signs that institutions were becoming increasingly concerned about 바카라사이트 possible impact of 바카라사이트 resignations ¨C and a broader marking boycott that could be called by 바카라사이트 University and College Union ¨C over 바카라사이트 exam period.

The University of Kent¡¯s senate has passed a motion allowing meetings of boards of examiners to go ahead even if attendance is restricted by 바카라사이트 dispute. It?will have full decision-making authority as long as it is attended by a?¡°senior participant external to 바카라사이트 school¡± if no external examiners are available. A?spokesman stressed that 바카라사이트 institution still plans to complete 바카라사이트 external examination process as normal.

Assessment teams at King¡¯s College London have been told that emergency regulations will be used if needed ¡°to allow progression/award where performance is prevented by events which may be beyond 바카라사이트 control of 바카라사이트 college¡±.

A King¡¯s spokeswoman said: ¡°Our external process has not been disrupted or changed, and we will only use emergency regulations when needed to respond to circumstances as appropriate.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com