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External Examiner Briefing Day 2017/18
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Presenters: Dr Claire Orwin
Associate Professor Student Experience, Faculty of Arts, Design and Humanities Nicola Brooks Associate Dean Academic, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Sally Lloyd Senior Officer, Taught Programmes, DAQ Suzanne Nelson Senior Quality Officer (Management Information), DAQ Louise Newell Quality Officer (External Examiners/Awarding Bodies), DAQ
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What are we covering? The DMU context
The Academic Regulations, taught programmes The role of the external examiner Using academic management information (MI) External examiner reports
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The De Montfort University Context
Roles within the University Devolved University Role of the Centre PVC Dean and Deputy Dean Associate Dean Academic/Associate Professor Student Experience Associate Professor Quality Head of School/Department Programme, subject and module leaders Programme Administrator/Faculty Office Manager
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Academic Regulations Generic regulations
Programme Specific Regulations Programme specific regulations are more stringent Held in a separate programme-specific regulations register
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Credit Framework and Levels
Nationally recognised credit tariff: 1 credit = 10 notional student learning hours Modules based around 15 and 30 credits, and larger modules. UG dissertation modules normally 30 credits, PGT dissertation modules normally 60 credits Levels conform to FHEQ: level 4 = primarily diagnostic/formative. Levels 5 & 6 = count towards degree classification. Level 7 = postgraduate
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Programme Specification
Programme specification to define curricula Two levels defining programme and module Programme specifications place subject in national context, including subject benchmarks, and define student outcomes Module specifications use learning outcomes methodology and link this to assessment
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Awards and Credits Levels 4 5 6 7 Total Master’s degree 180
Postgraduate diploma 120 Postgraduate certificate 60 Integrated master’s 480 Honours degree 360 Non-honours (ordinary degree) 300 FD/HND/DipHE 240 HNC/CertHE UCPD -
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Maximum Periods of Registration
Award Full-time Part-time Master’s degree 3 years 6 years Postgraduate diploma 2 years 4 years Postgraduate certificate 1 year Integrated master’s 7 years 9 years Honours degree 8 years Non-honours (ordinary degree) 5 years FD/HND/DipHE HNC/CertHE UCPD
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Assessment and progression: UG
Module pass mark = 40% Progression rules the same across levels and award types Progression from level to level if student passes 90 credits worth of modules. Pass mark is 40%. Failures below 30% must be retrieved. Failures between 30-39% can be compensated Part-time: can progress from one year to next if pass at least 30 credits in current year
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Compensation - UG Awarded to student on basis of overall performance (passing 90 credits at the level of study) 30 credits worth available per level Whole modules only can be compensated Not available for ‘must pass’ modules Some programme-specific regulations prevent compensation
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Assessment and progression: PGT
Module pass mark = 50% Dissertation: student must pass at least 60 taught credits to progress to the dissertation All modules must be passed in order to gain award
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Reassessment Undergraduate: 60 credits of assessment is available per level, in any permutation/combination of module sizes Postgraduate: One reassessment is available in each module, plus an additional 30 credits to be used as required Module marks are capped at the pass mark on reassessment
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Classification of award
Classification band Postgrad awards Integrated Master’s Honours degree FD/HND/HNC etc. 70% and above Distinction First class honours 60-69% Merit Upper second (2:1) 50-59% Pass Lower second (2:2) 40-49% Fail Third class honours Below 40%
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Degree Classification: UG
System based upon the best 105 level 5 credits and the best 105 level 6 credits (discounting 15 credits per level) Level 6 is triple-weighted. This is to recognise exit velocity For programmes which use the 30 credit level 5 placement module: best 120 of the 150 level 5 credits and best 105 level 6 credits, with level 6 triple-weighted
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Degree Classification UG - Rules Based “Consideration” Band
Band provides a consistent approach to student classification Rules apply if the aggregate percentage is not more than 2% below a classification band Higher classification will be awarded to a student who: - either achieves across the last 120 credits of level 6 modules an aggregate percentage in the higher classification band - or achieves in at least 60 of the last 120 level 6 credits marked in higher classification band
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Degree Classification: PGT
Master’s: a student won’t get a classification higher than the mark for the dissertation module Master’s: dissertation at distinction or merit level and either at least 120 credits are at distinction/merit level or the overall average mark is at distinction/merit level PgDip: either at least 90 credits at distinction/merit level or the overall average mark is at distinction/merit level PgCert: either at least 45 credits at distinction/merit level or the overall average mark is at distinction/merit level
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The Role of the External Examiner
To ensure that standards are maintained from a subject point of view To ensure fairness and equity from a student point of view To act as a critical friend with: - Curriculum developments - Standards
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Examiners Role with Assessment
Assessment aims and objectives are appropriate Purposes and philosophy of assessment are articulated and understood Assessment load is appropriate Assessment is properly and impartially conducted
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At the Start of Each Session
For undergraduate honours degree provision, agree the basis for auditing Level 4 (not essential) Agree the basis for sampling assessments Engage in consultation about draft assessments Agree the basis of visits to the University
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Outside of the Assessment Boards - Sampling
Sample assessments to enable judgments to be made as to the: - overall suitability of assessment methods - coherence of assessment strategy - consistency of internal marking Right to see all assessments, discretion to sample Should see: - Assessment(s) marked highest overall - Selection of passed assessments from each classification band - Problematic assessment - A sample of fails for UG and all failed dissertations for PGT
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Outside of the Assessment Boards
Meet students and discuss their work, may be invited to attend presentations, performances etc Advise on individual cases e.g. where there has been internal disagreement about a mark Confirm the distribution of marks for a module Some modules run concurrently at a number of locations External examiners should understand this when sampling in order that they can comment
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Extenuating Circumstances
Central panel for exams Faculty Panel for coursework Outcome: Deferral accepted or refused Reasons: Consistence and objectivity Focus on genuine cases
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Engaging External Examiners
4 models of engagement Each board will decide which model is most appropriate Handout in information pack shows which model each board has chosen to use Some boards are responsible for a wide and varied selection of programmes and may use more than 1 model
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Assessment boards DMU have a single tier assessment board covering programmes and modules Accountable for academic integrity of assessment in programmes and one or more subjects Responsible for conduct of assessment including determining module marks, progression and awards
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At the Assessment Boards
Arrangements and processes for module assessments and moderation and for reassessments Verification and ratification of results Progression and award Ensuring compliance with university and PSRB requirements including programme specific regulations Verbal report from the external examiner indicating good practice External examiners should be involved with reassessment and invited to the assessment boards .
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Using Academic Management Information
Student performance and achievement data summarised at module and programme level Data used internally within teaching teams' annual evaluations Optional resource – not mandatory use (particularly useful if missed assessment board) Users required to adhere to the principles of the Data Protection Act ie lawful and correct treatment of personal information Extends to use of all DMU data. Currently delivered via Tableau
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Module achievement Pass rates; mark banding distribution; average module mark; standard deviation Compare performance: across sessions; particular populations (cohorts, campuses, programmes etc); before/after reassessment period
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Programme performance
Indicative progression/retention; distribution of awards; intended award achieved indicators Compare performance: across sessions; particular populations (cohorts, campuses); before/after reassessment period
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How you might use this data
Inform judgement regarding academic standards and student performance (within written report) Evaluate overall student performance: academic level; learning outcomes; assessment criteria.
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External Examiner Reports
Within 1 month after the main assessment board Optional supplementary reports and reports to the PVC or VC Serious concerns relating to standards within the institution and all internal procedures have been exhausted – use the independent mechanism for addressing concerns about standards and quality in higher education managed by QAA.
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Report Proforma Summary Main report
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What happens to your report?
Submit report to within 1 month after main assessment board Report will be circulated to the faculty/partners PVC/Dean will send initial response within 28 days Considered by the relevant programme management board Full response will be sent within 2 weeks after the programme management board
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Monitoring Monitoring of Faculty Issues:
Associate Professor Quality/Faculty Head of Quality track faculty themes, comment upon any regulatory or board operation issues in the Programme Appraisal and Enhancement (PAE) overview report Monitoring of Institutional Issues: Read by DAQ and institutional themes highlighted. Appropriate person will respond on behalf of University Annual overview report submitted to Academic Quality Committee (AQC)
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Administrative Arrangements
Faculty Administration Managing student records Programme and module management Assessment and management boards Operational liaison with external examiners Faculty quality systems DAQ Administration Receive and read all annual and final external examiner reports Keep track of institutional and Faculty themes Prepare AQC Annual Report Appointments and extensions of appointments
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Payment of Fees and Expenses
Annual fee - Paid on receipt of annual report (to and claim form (to faculty contact) Visit fee - Paid on receipt of claim form. Claim after each visit Dissertation fee for PGT – need to keep track of how many dissertations have been reviewed Expenses - Include all original receipts
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Fees and Expenses - who and where to
Art, Design and Humanities - Natascha Ackerman Clephan Building room 0.03, Business and Law - Nicola Warrington Hugh Aston room 4.86, Health and Life Sciences - Sophia Welton Edith Murphy room 3.39 Technology - Suffiyyah Mohammed Gateway House room 4.11 Educational Partnerships - Samuel Johnson Gateway House room 1.56, Name of contact De Montfort University The Gateway Leicester LE1 9BH
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Fees and Expenses - when
Completed claim forms need to be submitted by the end of the month Forms received after this date will be paid the following month Payslips can be accessed in the DMUhub using your single sign-on (Blackboard) username and password
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Contacts Emma Sheffield, Head of Academic Quality esheffield@dmu.ac.uk
Sally Lloyd, Senior Officer, Taught Programmes Suzanne Nelson, Senior Quality Officer (Management Information) Louise Newell, Quality Officer (External Examiners/Awarding Bodies)
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Useful Resources DMU website https://www.dmu.ac.uk
External Examining at DMU Scheme and Regulations Assessment and Feedback Policy Department of Academic Quality website DMUhub
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