Their role within Schools and Colleges External Examiners Their role within Schools and Colleges Nigel Horner Head of School of Health and Social Care College of Social Science Member of the University External Examiners’ Committee 1

What Do Programmes Need From External Examiners? Strong engagement with the teaching team Approval of minor modifications to module or programme specifications Approval of assessment tasks and examination papers Review of samples of student work Confirmation of student marks lists Attendance at Boards of Examiners (subject and/or College) Submission of an Annual Report 2

Approval of Assessments Coursework assignments (often incorporated in module handbooks) from across the year and end – of –year examination papers, where relevant.

Approval of Marks All modules for Foundation Degrees, HND/Cs, Undergraduate and taught Postgraduate programmes Work may be sent by post, be accessed via Blackboard (VLE) or reviewed at the university or in situ prior to the Subject Board of Examiners meeting Comments sent to module co-ordinator When marks are agreed, a printout of the marks is signed by the module co-ordinator and the external examiner

Review of Work You should receive original (or see): A Module handbook (contains outline programme, reading lists, assessment criteria, learning outcomes) A copy of the examination paper or assignment details and associated marking criteria A proportionate sample of work across the range of marks A provisional marks list A Module Evaluation Report or the full programme Annual Monitoring Report from the previous year.

Subject Boards of Examiners Invitations (with agenda and minutes) sent out by School Office Student work seen by External Examiner and marks agreed prior to the meeting Board ratifies module marks Module co-ordinators provide reports for each module Opportunity to review the year, to look at quality issues and discuss possible changes. Verbal feedback given by External Examiners either on specific modules or in general terms regarding the whole programme

Role and Functions of the College Board of Examiners Confirms progression of students Confers awards and classification Considers, and where appropriate, ensures a response to the opinions and advice of external examiners Oversees maintenance of academic standards Advises Chair of Academic Board on matters that have come to its attention, as appropriate

Value of External Examiners and their Reports (1) External Examiners are first and foremost highly valued peer auditors of subject standards against national expectations They contribute to the development of programmes They help to engage with developments in the discipline and to appreciate professional, statutory and regulatory body expectations 8

Value of External Examiners and their Reports (2) External examiners comment on the quality of Learning, Teaching and Assessment in terms of strengths, innovative features and areas for development Finally, and most importantly, External Examiners have a crucial role in maintaining and improving the quality of the student experience whilst upholding academic and professional standards 9