External Examiner Induction

2013/14

External Examiner Induction• University Overview

• UG & PG Academic Framework

• Structure and Purpose of Boards

• Role of the External Examiner

• Undergraduate & Postgraduate Regulations

• IT Access: Wolf, PebblePad and e:Vision

• Finance: Claims

• Useful Contacts

University Overview• Previously eight Academic Schools, during 13-14 moving to Faculty structure:

– Faculty of Science and Engineering (operating as a faculty in 13-14)– Faculty of Arts (operating as a faculty from 14-15)– Faculty of Social Sciences (operating as a faculty from 14-15)– Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing (operating as a faculty from 14-15)

• A number of themed Research Institutes / Centres

• Student Profile:

• 20 credit framework for both UG and PG

White 58.5 %

Female 59.4 %

19 – 20 years old 28.8 %

From West Midlands 74.9 %

Studying full-time 72.2 %

UG & PG Academic Framework

Structure and Purpose of Boards

Stage One Board

Internal Checking

External Examiners not required to attend

Stage Two

An on-going process throughout the academic year. The External Examiner interacts with module staff and students in a variety of ways.

Stage Three Board

Confirmation

External Examiners required to attend

Module Results Award & Progression

Stage One Board

Internal Checking

External Examiners not required to attend

Stage Two

An on-going process throughout the academic year. The External Examiner interacts with module staff and students in a variety of ways.

Stage Three Board

Ratification

External Examiners required to attend

Board Stage Profiles…

Attendance

Activities

Paperwork

Module Results: Stage Three Board

Reduced membershipChairChair of Stage One BoardSecretaryExternal Examiners

Report and record Stage One Board activityFormally ratify recommendationsReceive a verbal overview from external examinerFormal report submitted 4 weeks after Stage Three Board

Formal minutes taken

Award & Progression: Stage Three Board

Reduced membershipChairChair of Stage 1 BoardSecretaryExternal examiners

Short and focusedReport and record Stage 1 activityFormally agree recommendationsReceive brief report from External Examiner

Formal minutes takenStatistics / comparisonsStudent transcriptsChair’s ReportExternal Examiner’s report

Essential Role of the External Examiner

Part B: Assuring and enhancing academic quality

Chapter B7: External examining

Expectation:Higher education providers make scrupulous use of external examiners

18 indicators of sound practice:

• defining the role (Indicators 1-3)• nomination and appointment (Indicators 4-6)• carrying out the role (Indicators 7-10)• recognition of the work of external examiners (Indicator 11)• external examiners' reports (Indicators 12-16)• serious concerns (Indicators 17, 18)

Essential Role of the External Examiner Part B: Assuring and enhancing academic quality

Chapter B7: External examining

What am I expected to do?

• Provide impartial, independent and informative advice/comments and recommendations to assure and enhance

• Meet with students

• Comment on collaborative provision

• Attend Assessment Boards

• Submit an annual report x4 weeks after the final Stage 3 assessment board

• Moderate a sample of student work to determine the accuracy and consistency of internal marking of assessment tasks (level 4 (for HNDs & FDs), 5 and above)

• Confirm assessment is in accordance with module regulations

• Confirm the continuing currency of the range of modules

• Approve assessment tasks for next year

• Confirm that University and Course regulations have been applied consistently and fairly for all students studying on courses belonging to the Board.

• Confirm each student’s award and classification, where they have met the requirement for the award.

Module Results External

Examiner

Progression & Award External

Examiner

What am I not expected to do?

• Second mark assignments/ exam scripts

• Arbitrate on internal marker’s grading disagreements

• Change grades of individual students

• Viva students to obtain additional academic information

• Change grades of individuals or groups

• Viva students to obtain additional information to determine a grade or classification, except where required by a professional body

Module Results External Examiner

Progression & Award External Examiner

Regulations: Undergraduate, Foundation, Taught Postgraduate and Professional Doctorates.• Broken down into sections (F-Z according to awards and read in conjunction

with A-E)Section Section titleA General Regulations - 20 credit (87k)B Admissions - 20 credit (67k)

C Enrolment and Registration - 20 credit (66k)

D Student Assessment - 20 credit (129k)

E Assessment Boards (20 & 15 credit structure) (71k)

F Foundation degree -20 credit (68k)G CertHE and DipHE - 20 credit (58k)

H Single honours degree - 20 credit (79k)

J Integrated Joint honours degree - 20 credit (85k)

K Sandwich Honours degree - 20 credit (86k)

L Single honours Bracketed Awards - 20 credit  (80k)

M Top Up degree - 20 credit (80k)

N Graduate certificate and diploma - 20 credit (58k)

P Postgraduate and Masters degree -20 credit (58k)

Q Integrated Masters - 20 credit (87k)

S Higher National Certificates and Diploma - 20 credit (63k)

T Foundation and Preparatory Studies -20 credit (59k)

U Accelerated Single Honours Degree - 20 credit (87k)

V Professional Doctorate Regulations - 20 credit (63k)

W Masters Top Up Awards - 20 credit (48k)

Z Credit only - 20 credit (52k)

Regulations: GradingMark Performance Result 3-6 Result 7

90-100% Outstanding  Pass Pass

80-89% Excellent Pass Pass

70-79% Very Good Pass Pass

60-69% Good Pass Pass

50-59% Competent Pass Pass

40-49% Pass (levels 3-6) Pass Defer (first attempt) Fail (following second attempt)

#30-39%1 Pass by compensation Pass Not applicable

30-39%1 Compensatable fail (levels 3-6) Defer (first attempt)Fail (following second attempt)

Defer (first attempt)Fail (following second attempt)

0-29% Uncompensatable fail Defer (first attempt)Fail (following second attempt)

Defer (first attempt)Fail (following second attempt)

NS Assessment not submitted Defer (first attempt)Fail (following second attempt)

Defer (first attempt)Fail (following second attempt)

GA Assessment grade awaited Held Held

AM Academic Misconduct under investigation Held Held

M Valid Extenuating circumstances. May submit assessment within the academic year the module was studied.

Defer Defer

1 At level 7 compensation not permitted

Regulations: Compensation & Progression

CompensationUndergraduate Postgraduate

At levels 4, 5 & 6 (PRSB requirements may not allow this)

Must have passed 100 credits (FT students)

20 credits can be compensated at each level but no more than 40 credits in a programme of 360 credits can be compensated

No compensation between modules

ProgressionUndergraduate Postgraduate

Must have passed 100 credits or more to progress from one level to the next

N/A

Regulations: Calculating an Award

Credits RequiredUndergraduate

 Qualification

Total Credits required

Level 4 Level 5 Level 6

Honours Degree 

360 Normally 120 240 of which a minimum of 120 must be at level 6

Degree 

300 Normally 120 180 of which a minimum of 60 must be at level 6

 Exit Qualification

Total Credits required 

 Level 4

 Level 5

 Level 6

Diploma of Higher Education 240 Normally 120 Minimum 120 at level 5/6Certificate of Higher Education 120 Minimum 120 at level 4/5 NoneUniversity Statement of Credit 20 Minimum 20 None None

Regulations: Calculating an AwardClassification Algorithm

Undergraduate – Border ZonesClassification Percentage Average Criterion for award of the higher

classFirst 

70 – 100%  

First/Upper Second border range 67.01% - 69.99% Student must have 70% or above in at least 60 level 6 credits gained in the final year of the course

Upper Second 60% - 67%   

Upper/Lower Second border range 

57.01% - 59.99% Student must have 60% or above in at least 60 level 6 credits gained in the final year of the course

Lower Second 50% - 57%   

Lower Second/Third border range 47.01% - 49.99% Student must have 50% or above in at least 60 level 6 credits gained in the final year of the course

Third 40% - 47%   

Regulations: Calculating an Award

Credits RequiredPostgraduate

Qualification Total Credits required Level 6  Level 7Postgraduate Certificate in Education (M)

120 60 60

Postgraduate Certificate 60   60Postgraduate Diploma 120   120Masters Degree 180   180

 Exit Qualification Total Credits required  Level 6  Level 7Graduate Certificate in (Primary/Secondary) School Teaching

100 100

Graduate Certificate in School Teaching Studies

60 60

University Statement of Credit

20 20

Regulations: Calculating an Award

Classification AlgorithmPostgraduate

Masters Degree with…

Taking… Required to gain at least… At percentage… Which must include…

Distinction180 credits 120 credits

70% or above Research project or dissertation

module

140 - 160 credits 100 credits 100 - 120 credits 80 credits

Merit180 credits 120 credits

60% or above140 - 160 credits 100 credits 100 - 120 80 credits

Awards of Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate and Statement of Credit are not classified

IT Access

• View module materials;• Read student assessments submitted through the Formative or Summative eSubmission

process;• Mark summative e-Submissions assessments that have been read by you

• View module materials in the gateway resource section;• Dependant on permission level given have a range of functionality;• Read student assessments submitted into the gateway

• Access relevant Academic Standards and Quality documents and internal/external links; • Change your personal details;• Contact us through a generic email address to raise any queries;• Receive regular news updates;• Upload your annual reports

External Examiners are sponsored for an IT account by ASQ at the time of appointment. Accounts are for the examiners period of tenure i.e. 4 years + 1 (if extended)

Finance: ClaimsBasic Annual Fee for Module Results Board £350

Basic Annual Fee for Award Board £200

Additional Daily Attendance Allowance £50

Mentoring Fee £50

Daily Attendance Allowance (Self Employed) £180

• An annual fee will only be paid when the External Examiner report has been received by ASQ;

• Claim forms can be completed on-line however; the form must be printed off, signed in Blue ink (electronic signature NOT accepted);

• All original receipts must be submitted with the claim receipts as non submission will result in expenses being taxed. Annual fees and daily rates are taxable;

• Daily attendance allowances will be paid for attendance at boards to which the external is appointed and separate additional visits to the University. Dates of visits must be included on the claim form. Claim forms without dates included will be returned and may result in payment being delayed. Self-employed external examiners can claim the daily attendance rate of £180 for each day they visit the University).

• Self employed external examiners can claim the daily attendance rate of £180 for each day they visit the University or Partner Institution.

Useful ContactsName Title Email Phone

Catherine Shaw Head of Academic Standards and Quality

c.b.shaw@wlv.ac.uk 01902 32(3182)

Belinda Cross Senior Quality Officer (for contractual queries, including final reports)

b.cross@wlv.ac.uk 01902 32(3141)

Mandy Sahota External Examining Support (for contractual queries, including final reports)

Mandy@wlv.ac.uk 01902 32(2880)

Lynn Redfern Student Office Manager (for LSSC and FSE board arrangement queries)

L.Redfern@wlv.ac.uk 01902 32(1188)

Jayne Hines Student Office Manager (for SHaW, UWBS and SAD board arrangement queries)

j.hines@wlv.ac.uk 01902 32(2629)

Phil Whittingham

STAR Office Manager (for transnational and research queries)

p.whittingham@wlv.ac.uk 01902 32(1631)

Scott Dean Student Office Manager (for SEF and SSPAL board arrangement queries)

s.w.dean@wlv.ac.uk 01902 32(3259)