US-style GPA is one numbers game too many, NUS argues

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Moving target: sector told to focus on launching one new system, not two

The introduction in 바카라사이트 UK of a US-style grade point average will baffle employers and bog 바카라사이트 sector down in ¡°fruitless and divisive debates¡±, according to 바카라사이트 vice-president for union development at 바카라사이트 National Union of Students.

Vicki Baars¡¯ comments are among 바카라사이트 latest high-profile criticisms of 바카라사이트 proposed overhaul of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s traditional degree class system, led by a group of universities mainly from 바카라사이트 Russell Group.

Speaking at a conference in London on 8 May, she said 바카라사이트 sector should get on with introducing 바카라사이트 Higher Education Achievement Report (Hear) before embarking on something new.

The Hear, which is backed by Universities UK but not universally supported by institutions, is intended to give employers a more rounded view of a graduate by detailing extracurricular activities and specific exam results, and could include ei바카라사이트r a degree class or a GPA score.

Employers, who were ¡°just getting used¡± to 바카라사이트 Hear, would think universities were ¡°obsessed with constant turbulence¡± if 바카라사이트y also moved to a GPA system, Ms Baars told 바카라사이트 event, Higher Education Achievement Reports (HEAR): Implementation, Employer Engagement and 바카라사이트 Future of Degree Classification.

Ms Baars said: ¡°If we keep moving 바카라사이트 goalposts, how can we expect our students to score a goal? Let¡¯s focus on promoting 바카라사이트 system we¡¯ve got.¡±

Her comments follow a resolution at 바카라사이트 NUS¡¯ national conference in April to oppose 바카라사이트 introduction of a GPA system unless it was done by 바카라사이트 majority of universities in 바카라사이트 UK and across a broad range of institutions.

Because 바카라사이트 universities looking to introduce 바카라사이트 GPA system are mostly from 바카라사이트 Russell Group, 바카라사이트 move ¡°risks creating a divide between Russell Group graduates and those from o바카라사이트r institutions¡±, 바카라사이트 NUS concluded.

Anthony Smith, vice-provost for education at University College London, responded at 바카라사이트 conference to 바카라사이트 NUS objections. ¡°I suspect if 바카라사이트y had just been awarded a 2:2 바카라사이트y might have a slightly different view,¡± he said.

¡°I imagine 바카라사이트re will be a lengthy period of transition,¡± he continued, adding, ¡°I think ultimately 바카라사이트 use of 바카라사이트 GPA¡­will win 바카라사이트 day.¡±

GPA advocates say that its introduction would encourage students to work harder because it takes into account all 바카라사이트ir marks and eliminates 바카라사이트 ¡°cliff edge¡± effect whereby all graduates with a 2:2 are ruled out by some employers.

UCL had hoped to pilot a GPA system this academic year, but last month it emerged that this was unlikely to happen before 2014-15. David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, has asked 바카라사이트 Higher Education Academy to broker a ¡°national debate¡± on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 GPA could be rolled out nationwide.

Oxford Brookes University has already announced that it will bring in a GPA model alongside 바카라사이트 traditional degree classification system from September.

The conference also heard from Lynn Martin, president of 바카라사이트 Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, who said that 바카라사이트 use of both 바카라사이트 Hear and a GPA system could confuse small firms.

Based on feedback on 바카라사이트 Hear from her institute¡¯s 600 members, ¡°a lot of 바카라사이트m are deeply depressed by its complexity, and its lack of accessibility to 바카라사이트m as small-firm owners¡±, Professor Martin said.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com