1. UWE Bristol UWE External Examiners’ Conference 2015
Presentation by
Name: Sue Yilmaz
Title: Deputy Head of Learning and Teaching Enhancement

2. UWE External Examiners’ Conference 2015
UWE Models of Academic Partnership
Collaborative Provision at UWE
The importance of the External Examiner role in Collaborative Provision

3. UWE External Examiners’ Conference 2015
Operationalising the role (the theory)
The challenges in practice (group discussion)
Plenary

4. UWE Models of Academic Partnership
Franchise (UK Partners) and Franchise (international partners)
Programmes delivered in partnership form part of UWE’s Modular Scheme : Modules that make up the programmes belong to UWE Fields of Study (EE Operational Guide: – 1.1.3, 1.1.6)
External Examiners are appointed to a Field of Study (Operational Guide: 2.2) – Field External Examiners
A Chief External Examiner is appointed to each Modular Scheme (Operational Guide: 2.3)
Provision subject to UWE’s standard Assessment Regulations
Assessment outcomes presented to Field and Award Boards convened and supported by UWE. May be held virtually to include partner colleagues.

5. UWE Models of Academic Partnership
Validation model (international and UK)
Programmes delivered in partnership will not form part of UWE’s Modular Scheme (although they may be modular in structure): Modules that make up the programmes will not belong to UWE Fields of Study (Operational Guide: 1.1.6)
External Examiners are appointed to an award (Operational Guide: 2.4.1)
A Chief External Examiner is appointed where there are multiple External Examiners appointed to a non-modular award (Operational Guide: 2.4.4)
Provision may be subject to variant assessment regulations
Assessment outcomes presented to examining boards are likely to be convened and supported by the partner. Likely to be held virtually to include partner colleagues. Will include UWE membership.

6. UWE Models of Academic Partnership
The models are available on the Academic Partnerships Portal (you will need your UWE log-in) which can be accessed via:
This link to UWE’s Academic Partnership pages is in the Operational Guide 1.1.6
Academic Partnerships are supported by Link Tutors and Partnership Leads and information on these roles are also available via the Portal and the link above.

7. Collaborative Provision at UWE
As of 2014, 17.4% (5,167) of UWE’s total student population is registered and studying for a UWE award at a partner institution.
UWE is seeking to double this figure by 2020.
One of UWE’s four ambitions for 2020 is to be best for being global and inclusive
One of UWE’s four priorities for action for 2020 – Strategic partnerships, connections and networks

8. Importance of the External Examiner role in collaborative provision
Securing and safeguarding the academic standards of UWE awards regardless of where delivery takes place or who delivers them.
When the University is considering a new partnership or extending an existing partnership, it will determine as early as possible in the development/due diligence phase whether or not the existing external examining team has the capacity to also cover the new arrangements or whether new externals need to be appointed. (Operational Guide: 3.3.3)

9. Operationalising the role
Role is the same
Impact of collaborative provision is:
Potentially increased workload;
Additional intakes requiring additional scrutiny of exam papers;
Additional intakes requiring more examining boards
May engage with the moderation process in a number of different ways (note: UWE looking to harmonise its process)

10. Operationalising the role
Changes affecting the role for 2014/15:
The University Assessment Cycle Policy, phased in during 2014/15 and 2015/16 (Operational Guide 4.1)
No Level 1 oversight (unless there is a PSRB requirement)
Programme External Pilot (Operational Guide 2.3a)

11. Operationalising the role
Supporting external examiners with a portfolio which includes collaborative provision:
Appointment letters
Change of responsibility letters
Providing academic calendars with key dates – scrutiny of examination papers; sampling;
Providing details of how samples will be made available – scrutiny days, by post, via Sharepoint

12. Operationalising the role
Supporting external examiners with a portfolio which includes collaborative provision:
Where you have samples from more than one location, presenting these so it is clear which partner has provided them
UWE to change the external examiner reporting template form