1. External Examiners’ Briefing
Thursday 5th January 2017

2. Outline of the session Role and Responsibilities Annual Report
Support and information
Regulatory Frameworks
Examination Boards
Failure & reassessment
Mitigating Circumstances, Cheating and Appeals

3. Role of the External Examiner 1
Key role in QA&E mechanisms: independence and objectivity
Maintenance of threshold standards
Ensuring rigour and fairness of assessment
Comparability of standards and student achievements
Identification of good practice and innovations
Opportunities to enhance student experience

4. Role of the External Examiner 2
Moderation of assessments and marks
Attendance at Examination Board
Endorsement of outcomes
Providing annual report and advice on proposed changes

5. Role of the External Examiner 3
Review samples of student work (and practice)
Review module grade profiles
Review assessment tasks
Comment on course and /or module amendments
Meet with course team, and students
Right to provide confidential report to VC and to access QAA concerns scheme

6. Moderation of marked work UW Assessment Policy
Internal moderation processes: transparency
External moderation
through the year/in advance of exam board meetings
15% of each element of assessment across all grade bands
at least 6 pieces of work; not normally more than 25
module outline, examination papers and/or assessment briefs and assessment and grade criteria
provisional statistical profile of marks for the modules/sites of delivery
moderation and endorsement not arbitration

7. External Examiner Report
Template provided
Due 3 weeks after final exam board
Initial response within 8 weeks from course leader to issues raised
Feeds into annual evaluation process and action plan
Shared with students
University Executive considers any resource issues; ASQEC institutional issues raised
Formal response to institutional issues raised Jan/Feb
Overview report to Academic Board

8. Support and information
UW Handboook
QAA Quality Code
The Higher Education Academy, Guidance on External Examining
AQU: (Margaret Chaffey and Jennifer Marsh ) for practical arrangements
Course Leader:
Exam Board dates and moderation schedule
Annual Evaluation Report/response