External Examiner Reports

External Examiner Report Each external examiner is required to complete an annual report following the Initial Examining Board and return it to the Academic Office; A separate report has to be completed for each appointment; The report should be completed electronically

Content of Report Primary role of the report is to provide independent assurance of the academic standards and quality of the student’s learning experience; Names of all students and staff should be omitted from reports to maintain appropriate confidentiality

Content of Report Report should indicate whether or not: the University is maintaining the threshold academic standards set for its awards in accordance with the frameworks for Higher Education qualifications and applicable subject and other benchmark statements; the assessment process measures student achievement rigorously and fairly against the intended outcomes of the programme(s) and is conducted in line with the University's policies and regulations; the academic standards and the achievements of students are comparable with those in other UK Higher Education Institutions of which the external examiners have experience.

Content of Report Report should also provide informative comment and recommendations on: good practice and innovation relating to learning, teaching and assessment observed by the external examiner; opportunities to enhance the quality of the learning opportunities provided to students;

Content of Report In addition, in the report the external examiner should: confirm that sufficient timely evidence was received to enable the role to be fulfilled (where evidence was insufficient, they give details); state whether issues raised in the previous report(s) have been, or are being, addressed to their satisfaction; address any issues as specifically required by any relevant professional body; give an overview of their term of office (when concluded).

Reporting Serious Concerns External examiner has the authority to report directly to the Vice-Chancellor where there is concern about standards and performance; Where there is a serious concern relating to systemic failings with the academic standards of a programme or programmes and all applicable internal procedures have been exhausted, including the submission of a confidential report to the Vice Chancellor, the external examiner may invoke QAA's concerns scheme or inform the relevant professional, statutory or regulatory body.

Response to Reports Reports are considered in detail at different levels within the University with copies distributed to: Programme Director; Head of School; Dean of Faculty; Dean of Quality and Standards. Following consideration at School level a formal response is prepared; Reports, together with the response are discussed during the Annual Review of each Programme of Study.

Response to Reports An overview report, summarising the findings of all the external examiners’ reports and identifying themes and issues that require an institutional response is prepared centrally for the Academic Quality and Standards Committee (AQSC); The overview report, together with any recommendations from AQSC, is presented to the Senate; Copies of the overview report and the recommendations for action are circulated to all external examiners.

Informing students All students have the right to view external examiners’ reports in full; In line with QAA requirements, names of external examiners will be made available to students, normally in the relevant Programme of Study Handbook.