In his keynote speech at the Universities UK Annual Conference, President Professor Steve Smith announced that UUK, together with GuildHE and in collaboration with agencies such as the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) and the Higher Education Academy (HEA), would lead a UK-wide review of external examiner arrangements. This review will seek to ensure that the system remains robust, recommending any improvements which would continue to support the comparability of academic standards and meet future challenges.
The Group, which will be chaired by a Vice-Chancellor (to be announced) and include representatives from across the sector, will address various issues, including:
- The need to develop Terms of Reference for the role, to support consistency
- Reinforcing the specific role of external examiners in ensuring appropriate and comparable standards
- Analysing the level of support given by institutions to external examining, both financial and professional
- Current and future challenges and changing practice (such as modularisation) and their implications for external examining
- Comparing the UK system with international practice
After 12 months, the Group will produce a report, highlighting the immediate short-term improvements, as well as longer term challenges and how these should be addressed.
Notes
- To read Professor Steve Smith's speech, click here
- Universities UK is the major representative body and membership organisation for the higher education sector. It represents the UK's universities and some higher education colleges. Its 133 members are the executive heads of these institutions. Universities UK works closely with policy makers and key education stakeholders to advance the interests of universities and to spread good practice throughout the higher education sector. Founded in 1918 and formerly known as the Committee for Vice-Chancellors and Principals (CVCP), Universities UK celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2008.