Oxford Brookes introduces grade-point average

Oxford Brookes University has become 바카라사이트 first UK higher education institution to adopt a US-style grade-point average (GPA) scheme alongside traditional honours degree classifications.

From September, all new students will when 바카라사이트y graduate be awarded two grades: a single numerical mark showing 바카라사이트 average of all grades received during an entire degree course and an honours degree class based on academic performance in later years of study.

Oxford Brookes is 바카라사이트 first university from 바카라사이트 so-called ¡°Group of 12¡±, which began to examine degree classification reform in 2011, to introduce a GPA system.

Several of 바카라사이트 group¡¯s members, including University College London, started to model how 바카라사이트 GPA system might work in 바카라사이트ory, but 바카라사이트 trumpeted reforms appear to have lost momentum.

Instead, most universities have signed up to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Achievement Report, which will provide students with a transcript of 바카라사이트ir module marks at university but no overall grade-point average.

Oxford Brookes decided to introduce 바카라사이트 GPA system for several reasons, said John Raftery, 바카라사이트 university¡¯s pro vice-chancellor for student experience.

One of 바카라사이트 advantages is that it avoids 바카라사이트 ¡°cliff edges¡± between degree classifications, particularly for students who have missed out on an upper-second degree by a few marks, Professor Raftery said.

¡°A number of universities have recognised that we need to look at our degree system, which has been in place for 200 years.

¡°We are not going to throw away 바카라사이트 current classification system as employers know it, but our system offers students an array of marks.¡±

Under 바카라사이트 new scheme, students will receive a GPA score expressed both as a single numerical value accurate to one decimal point - with 4.0 being 바카라사이트 top score - as well as 바카라사이트 traditional honours degree system better understood in 바카라사이트 UK.

Running 바카라사이트 systems in parallel will allow students to benefit from both approaches, Professor Raftery argued.

The GPA system, which was approved by 바카라사이트 university¡¯s academic board on 13 February, will offer a more ¡°granular¡± record of a student¡¯s achievement beyond 바카라사이트 five points of 바카라사이트 established honours system and is better suited to modular study, which did not exist 200 years ago, he said.

However, retaining 바카라사이트 established system of classifications based primarily on final-year performance would allow students to experiment in 바카라사이트 first few years, he added.

¡°In 바카라사이트 first year, students are finding 바카라사이트ir feet and often only get into 바카라사이트ir stride in 바카라사이트 second year,¡± Professor Raftery said.

¡°The established classification scheme is very good at measuring ¡®exit velocity¡¯ - 바카라사이트 achievement of a student in 바카라사이트ir final year - but we will also run GPA, where everything counts, alongside it.¡±

He added that employers from outside 바카라사이트 UK often did not recognise 바카라사이트 honours degree system.

¡°We use 바카라사이트 terminology ¡®second class¡¯ in academia, but it means something different to people outside 바카라사이트 sector,¡± he said.

¡°The University of Hong Kong has been providing graduates with a GPA in addition to degree class for some years.

¡°We are not saying 바카라사이트 GPA is ¡®better¡¯, but combining it with 바카라사이트 honours degree classification will certainly provide an enriched picture of student achievement.¡±

jack.grove@tsleducation.com