External examiners must be properly trained and supported, and institutions should consider the increase in workload that the post entails, in order for the system to properly function, according to new guidance published for the UK sector.
Two of the main bodies that represent higher education institutions – Universities UK (UUK) and GuildHE – have developed a set of principles alongside the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) to safeguard the system, which has come under increasing strain in recent years.
The guidance is not mandatory, but universities are being urged to follow the 12 principles to ensure that external examination, which has been in use for almost 200 years, remains a “key mechanism” to ensure that academic standards are maintained and that public confidence in the quality of degrees remains high.
