Essential Guide for External Examiners
Welcome to the External Examiners pages. The Web pages have been designed to enable you the user, to have access to all the essential information regarding your role as an External Examiner at our University.
The external examiner system is the process by which we assure ourselves that the academic standards of our programmes are comparable with similar Programmes offered elsewhere and that the assessment process has been conducted fairly, in accordance with the approved structure, content and regulations, and without prejudice to any student.
The reports provided by our external examiners are an integral part of our quality assurance process. They form part of the documentation requirements for the Review and Enhancement Process and Academic Review. In all cases, Programme and Field committees are required to demonstrate how they have responded to the views of the external examiner(s). In this way we aim to assure existing standards and, where possible, introduce changes which will enhance the quality of our Programmes.
Providing the report is a contractual requirement for external examiners. Reports are received centrally by the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Team which authorises payment of the external examiner's fee. Reports are sent to the Dean of the relevant school who is responsible for distribution to key members of academic staff such as the programme and field leaders. Reports are also read by the Head of Quality Assurance and Enhancement who identifies issues of institutional significance for attention by the relevant post holder. If an examiner expresses major concerns about the administration of a programme or academic standards, the relevant school is requested to produce a report for the Quality and Standards Committee explaining what action has/will be taken in response to the issues raised.
Please see section 'Forms for External Examiners' for report proformas.
