1 External Examiners’ Induction March 2017WELCOME External Examiners’ Induction March 2017 Checking Eligibility to Work in the UK To comply with UK Border Agency legal obligations for employment checks under the provision of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 it is a requirement of your appointment that you are able to provide documentary proof that you are eligible to work in the UK. Today you will be asked to sign to confirm that you have provided original documentary proof to comply with the above requirement Your passport will be checked and copied to confirm that the documentary proof is acceptable. Your passport will be returned to you later in the morning. Please do not leave without it 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
2 External Examiners’ Induction March 2017WELCOME External Examiners’ Induction March 2017 Professor Gwendolen Bradshaw - PVC (Learning, Teaching & Quality) Alison Carass (Academic Policy & Regulation) Sue Ledger (External Examining) Housekeeping Schedule for the day 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
3 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTIONHousekeeping Pack contents: Programme for the day Presentation slides Guide to External Examining for Taught Programmes Sample Board of Examiners result sheet Sample completed Annual Report QAA UK Quality Code for HE – Chapter 7 – External Examining University of Bradford Strategy 2015 – 2025 Evaluation Form, Expenses Claim Form and return envelope 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
4 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTIONWelcome to the University and Introductions UK Quality Code for Higher Education (Quality and Enhancement) Current initiatives 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
5 Assessment Committees and Boards of Examiners15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
6 Guide for Boards of Examiners and Related ProcessesA Guide has been created to combine all the relevant information in one place and this can be found at the following webpage: 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
7 Assessment CommitteesConsider performance in individual modules and assign definitive marks which may not be changed thereafter Membership includes Internal Examiners and Module External Examiners. Quorum: Chair, Module Leader, or nominee, for all modules under consideration. If Module External Examiners are unable to attend their views should be taken into account and they should agree the outcomes. Alternatively, they may attend by Skype/telephone or video conference. No approval needed for non-attendance or use of Skype etc. 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
8 Assessment Committees (2)May scale marks and should report any scaling to Boards of Examiners who received the marks concerned. An Assessment Committee may change an individual mark provided that this is done with the concurrence of those internal examiners who have reviewed all the work for the module concerned. This might be done on the basis of a recommendation to the Internal Examiners for the module from the External Examiner who has reviewed only a sample of work. 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
9 Extenuating Circumstances Sub-committeesConsider claims for extenuating circumstances submitted by students meet prior to the Board of Examiners make recommendations on whether circumstances should be accepted to the Board of Examiners. the Board of Examiners receives recommendations and makes a decision on course of action to be taken 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
10 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTIONBoards of Examiners Consider progression and award, including classification of Honours Degrees May not change any of the marks awarded by an Assessment Committee Take Extenuating Circumstances into account 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
11 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTIONBoards of Examiners (2) Membership includes Internal Examiners and course and/or personal tutors for students under review plus Programme External Examiners Quorum: Chair, Programme Leader, or nominee, for all Programmes under consideration, Programme External Examiner. A representative from AQPO must also be in attendance Faculties should consult External Examiners when arranging dates for Boards 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
12 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTIONBoards of Examiners (3) Undergraduate Programmes External Examiners are required to attend all meetings, including those for Partnership Provision, which are considering for the first time the progression and award for that cohort of students. Attendance is not required at supplementary Boards of Examiners considering progression and award following re-assessment, if no issues are identified with module assessments at the Main Board and none are anticipated in relation to supplementary assessments. If significant issues have emerged in the supplementary period then the External Examiner will be expected to attend. 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
13 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTIONBoards of Examiners (4) Postgraduate Programmes External Examiners are required to attend all meetings, including those for Partnership Provision, where awards are being considered for the first time. External Examiners are not required at any interim Boards held at the end of the taught component to consider either the supplementary assessment required for students to gain the award or making awards to students following re-assessment in the project/dissertation. Again, if issues are identified in the original assessments or significant issues are anticipated, or have emerged, in relation to the supplementary assessment, then the External Examiner will be expected to attend. 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
14 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTIONBoards of Examiners (5) If External Examiner is unable to attend the Board, the approval of the PVC (Learning, Teaching & Quality) must be given in order for the Board to go ahead. The External Examiner’s views must be taken into account and they should agree the outcomes before results are released. If an External Examiner cannot attend a meeting, it is possible to facilitate this, if appropriate, via Skype or Telephone/Video Conferencing. This should be done in such a way as to enable the External to participate in the meeting as if they were actually present. 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
15 Progression and Award (University Regulations)15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
16 SUMMARY OF PROGRESSION REGULATIONS(Individual Faculties may have waivers in relation to specific programmes, due to professional/validating Body requirements) Foundation Year / Certificate of HE / Diploma of HE / Foundation Degree / Honours Degree of Bachelor All Stages: 40.0% in 100 credits, 35.0% in the other 20. 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
17 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTIONOrdinary Degree The Ordinary Degree route will no longer be offered to students commencing programmes from 2016/17. The route will be honoured for all students who commenced studies before this date. Ordinary Degree as an exit award will be retained for all undergraduate Honours and Integrated Masters programmes, however, the credit requirements brought in line with sector to120 credits at Levels 4 and 5 and at least 60 credits at Level 6 which must be passed at 40.0% or above. Also no longer made with Merit or Distinction. Students who registered prior to 2016/17 will progress to the Ordinary Degree (if offered) at Stage 2 or Stage 3 if they do not meet the criteria for Honours progression at the end of Stage 1or Stage 2, but achieve 40.0% in 80 credits, and 35.0% in another 20 credits. At Stages 2 & 3: 40.0% in 80 credits, 35.0% in 20 credits. Students must have undertaken all permitted attempts at supplementary assessment for the Honours Programme before transfer to the Ordinary Degree. 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
18 Integrated Degree of Master (e.g. MPharm, MEng, MChem) Students take 480 credits over 4 Stages. Eligibility at each Stage is the same as that for the Honours Degree of Bachelor, unless a waiver applies 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
19 Postgraduate Taught Programmes Postgraduate Certificate 60 credits, with at least 40.0% in 40 credits and 35.0% in other 20 Postgraduate Diploma 120 credits, with at least 40.0% in 100 credits and 35.0% in other 20. Master's Degree 180 credits, with at least 40% in 160 credits and 35.0% in other 20. 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
20 PROGRESSION REGULATIONS:Undergraduate All students have a right to a Second attempt although this might not be in the August supplementary period. Will be permitted to take supplementary Assessment as follows: 80 credits or more below 40% - repeat year with attendance 70 credits or more below 40% - repeat individual modules 60 credits or less below 40% - supplementary assessment in August. Automatic Third Attempt if meet requirement to achieve 40% in 80 credits Automatic referral in up to 20 credits 40% Carry forward mark Postgraduate All students have the right to one supplementary assessment 35% Carry forward mark 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
21 AWARD OF UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Calculation and ClassificationStudents are required to meet the credit requirements Best 100 Credits from Stage 2 and Stage 3 used in calculation of Degree Weighting between Stages 2 and 3 is 20/80 Setting of Degree Classification Boundaries is fixed as follows: First Class Honours % Second Class Honours - First Division 58.0% Second Class Honours - Second Division 48.0% Third class Honours Below 48% 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
22 AWARD OF UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE (2): Merit and DistinctionBoundaries for Merit and Distinction at undergraduate level, for example, Cert HE, Dip HE are now fixed as follows: 68.0% = Distinction 58.0% = Merit The Best 100 credits will be used when calculating the award of Merit or Distinction Students with agreed Extenuating Circumstances may be considered for a classification of award other than that indicated by the above calculation 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
23 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTIONAWARD OF POSTGRADUATE DEGREE: Calculation and Award of Merit and Distinction Students are required to meet the credit requirements and all credit is used in calculation of the award of Merit or Distinction. The boundaries for Merit and Distinction are now fixed as follows: 68.0% = Distinction 58.0% = Merit In addition to the overall average, students on the Masters programme are required to achieve a Project/Dissertation mark of at least 60% for Merit and at least 70% for Distinction. Students with agreed Extenuating Circumstances may be considered for a classification of award other than that indicated by the above calculation 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
24 External Examining at Bradford15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
25 External Examining at BradfordThe QAA UK Quality Code for Higher Education, Chapter B7,External Examining, sets out the following Expectation about external examining, which Higher Education institutions are required to meet: Higher education providers make scrupulous use of external examiners 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
26 External Examining at BradfordGuide for External Examining of Taught Programmes has been developed in line with the QAA UK Quality Code Chapter B7 to assist External Examiners, staff, partners and students understand the role at Bradford 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
27 What we expect from our External ExaminersWe hope that our External Examiners will: Be a Critical Friend Offer independent assessment of our academic standards and quality Ensure that our students are dealt with fairly in the assessment and classification process Identify and share good practice 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
28 What our External Examiners can expect from usWe hope that our External Examiners will: Feel supported by dedicated Central and Faculty resources Understand what their role is from the outset Receive all the information required in a timely manner to carry out their duties effectively Feel confident to have open and frank discussion and to know that their comments have been considered 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
29 External Examiner roles at BradfordAll our External Examiners are responsible for a group of Modules. In addition, most of our External Examiners are also responsible for a Programme or group of Programmes. An important element of the role is to ensure that the threshold academic standards across all Modules and Programmes are: Being maintained Comparable In line with University regulations Threshold academic standards are the level of achievement that a student has to reach to gain an academic award. For equivalent awards, the threshold level of achievement should be the same across the UK. 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
30 Main Duties of External ExaminersModules This part of the role is to provide confirmation that the module assessments have been: Appropriately designed in line with FHEQ levels and individual module learning outcomes Marked in a fair and equitable manner And that good quality feedback has been given to students in a timely way 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
31 Main Duties of External ExaminersProgrammes This part of the role, where applicable, is to ensure that Programmes are: Aligned to National Subject benchmarks In line with University regulations Meet the Programme learning outcomes And that the assessment process has been carried out in a fair and equitable manner. 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
32 Main Duties of External ExaminersPreparation Handbooks, Regulations, FHEQ, Subject benchmark statements, ongoing dialogue with teams Review all assessment briefs – both examination and coursework titles Sampling representative sample of work Confirmation of marks and of awards made Reporting Annual report form, one per examiner Preparation: Familiar with University regulations, FHEQ levels and National Subject benchmarks. Module and Programme handbooks should be available for review and ongoing dialogue with module/programme teams on all forms of assessment should be established to inform and enhance the process. Review: All draft assessments, exam and other coursework, should be reviewed and approved and a schedule of work should be agreed with the Department including deadlines for work expected, meeting dates and return dates for comments Sampling: a representative sample of work across the full range of marks should be available to view with all work available if required Confirmation: should attend Assessment Committees if possible to confirm marks and meet staff/students as required. Programme EEs attend main Board to confirm progression and award in line with regulations Reporting: Annual Report Form should be completed to confirm threshold academic standards, students are dealt with fairly and to identify strengths, weaknesses and good practice 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
33 Recognition of Prior LearningAll Recognition of Prior Learning is approved at an Assessment Committee/RPL meeting. External Examiners are required to sample: Mapping documents for recognition of prior certificated learning Proposals for recognition of prior experiential learning The process is outlined in the Guide to Recognition of Prior Learning and on the web at: 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
34 Working with Partner InstitutionsThe University of Bradford assumes full responsibility for external examining at Partner Institutions: Some External Examiners will have a role examining programmes and modules studied at Partner institutions in the UK and overseas External Examiners have the same role for programmes and modules operating at Partner Institutions; this includes sampling work, confirming marks, progression and award and assuring the quality of the provision there There is a specific section in the Annual Report to compare Partner programmes with the onsite programmes and to identify any specific strengths or weaknesses there. 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
35 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTIONStudent Information The name, position and institution of External Examiners are included in handbooks for students Students may not contact External Examiners directly and any such contact should be referred to Academic Quality & Partnerships Office in the first instance External Examiner reports are published in their entirety on a secured part of the AQPO website for access by staff, students, partners and external examiners Students have access to Annual Reports as members of University decision making committees 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
36 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTIONReporting All External Examiners are required to complete an Annual Report. The Report is updated and ed each academic year in September and again in June to External Examiners for completion by the deadline: 31 July for Undergraduate programmes 30 November for Postgraduate programmes Or four weeks after the last Board of Examiners 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
37 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTIONReporting (2) The Annual Report is very important to the enhancement planning for the Programmes, Faculties and for the Quality Management of the University: The report template is a Word document and should be completed electronically and ed to AQPO at or posted to AQPO for my attention Show example of 14/15 report form The report should be completed as fully as possible There should be consistency of comments with those given informally to teams The report should contain a frank appraisal of the programmes/modules with honest observations, comments and recommendations The report should be completed and submitted by the deadline or as soon as possible after the Board of Examiners 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
38 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTIONJudging Standards Appendix 6 of the Guide lists the main areas for comment but you might want to think about these questions as you go through the year: Standards What are the threshold standards? Are the standards set at validation and as detailed on the programme specification being maintained? Does the curriculum remain valid, current and coherent? Is there comparability and consistency of standards across the Programmes/Modules? Are assessment criteria, marking schemes etc. set at the appropriate levels? Are threshold standards comparable with other HEIs in the same subject/at the same level that you are familiar with? 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
39 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTIONJudging Standards (2) Process Are the assessments appropriate, properly designed and applied fairly and equitably? Is the marking at the right level? Has RPL been mapped and assessed appropriately? Has the marking scheme/grading criteria been properly applied? Do students receive appropriate written feedback? Is assessment being carried out in accordance with our own academic regulations? Is the Board of Examiners/Assessment Committee operation appropriate? Are the procedures governing extenuating circumstances and academic misconduct applied fairly? 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
40 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTIONJudging Standards (3) Enhancement Is there good practice and innovation observed in relation to learning, teaching and assessment? Are there any opportunities to enhance the quality of students’ learning? Partnership provision Did you have enough information about the partnership programme? Are you able to compare the provision against onsite provision? Are there are strengths or weaknesses specific to this provision? 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
41 University Response to ReportsThe University will write to you in response to your Annual Report form including: University response to institutional issues raised by External Examiners Action Plan detailing Faculty actions and responses to issues and recommendations made by you The Action Plan will also form part of enhancement planning for the Faculty and quality management of the University Appendix 7 – flowchart of reporting and feedback process 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
42 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTIONCauses for concern Examiners may alert the Vice Chancellor directly to serious failings in standards or process where there is no satisfactory response from the department/Faculty, etc. QAA’s Concerns Scheme and/or equivalent PSRB mechanisms may also be invoked 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
43 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTIONFees and Expenses The fee for external examining is paid normally on receipt of the Annual Report via the monthly payroll run Expenses can be claimed in relation to attendance at meetings and other activities related to sampling of assessments Full details are in the Guide at Appendix 3 The claim form can be downloaded from the website at Show example of claim form 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
44 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTIONResources: University of Bradford Academic Quality & Partnerships Office General Information; Board of Examiners meetings information pack; Regulations for award bearing taught courses of study; University Ordnances and Policies Higher Education Academy External Examining Handbook https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/HE_Academy_External_Examiners_Handbook_2012.pdf 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
45 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTIONResources: Framework for Higher Education Qualifications and Subject Benchmarks: QAA UK Quality Code Chapter B7 – External Examining University of Bradford Regulations: 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
46 Academic Quality & Partnerships OfficeAcademic Quality Officer: External Examining Sue Ledger Tel: 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
47 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTIONAny questions? Evaluation form Department meetings this afternoon – Representatives to meet us for lunch and take you to your session in the Faculty 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION
48 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTIONThank you 15 March 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINER INDUCTION