UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS LONDON
EXTERNAL EXAMINER REPORT FORM
Name of External Examiner:
Andre Pinkowski
College:
Ravensbourne
If acting as a Mentor, state to whom
Course:
(e.g. BA Fine Art, and where appropriate, pathway):
BA Digital Photography
Academic Year (e.g 2011/2012):
2014
This is your report on the course examined in the standard format required by the Academic
Standards and Development Committee of the University of the Arts London. As well as being
seen by the relevant academic and administrative staff at the University, this report will be
made available internally, and to the University community (including students), via the
Quality Information Intranet site. Therefore anyone with access to University IT facilities will
be able to read it.
Copies of this report will also be made available, if requested, under the Freedom of
Information Act but will first be subjected to scrutiny to ensure that no information which can
be construed as personal data is included. In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998,
information included within the report relating to named individual students or members of
staff will also be made available to those individuals if requested by them but may be
conveyed in summary form.*
FULL REPORT
This report will be seen by academic and administrative staff at the University, will be made
available internally, and to the University community, via the Quality Information Intranet site.
1. Administration
Were the following administrative arrangements satisfactory and was the following
information provided to you?
(a) Annual Monitoring Report
(b) External Examiner Briefing
(c) Course Handbook
(d) Assessment briefs
(e) Arrangements for meetings and
Examination Boards
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
x
x
x
x
x
No
No
No
No
No
If you indicated ‘no’ to any of the above, please add any additional comments: (Write
a maximum of 100 words)
If this is your first year please indicate whether you received the following:
Yes
No
(f) External Examiner Handbook
(g) Previous external examiner report
(h) A formal induction to your role as an
External Examiner at the University
(h) Details of your mentor (if relevant)
(j) If you were allocated a Mentor, please
provide a brief overview of the support you
received below
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
If you indicated ‘no’ to any of the above, please add any additional comments: (Write
a maximum of 100 words)
2. Assessment Standards
Please comment on the quality and standards of the assessment process, drawing
particular attention to: (a) internal marking; (b) internal moderation; (c) the conduct of
the Examination Board. Overall, in your view, has the process of assessment been
soundly and fairly conducted? (Normally write between 100- 200 words)
For this years visit a cross section of marks and feedback was presented of the
following modules:
DGP11202 / C202 - Marketing Strategy
DGP11204 / C204 - Promotions and Advertising
DGP11205 - Documentary Photography and Photojournalism
DGP11206 - Advanced Commercial Photography
DGP11207 - Motion Photography
DGP11208 - Genres: Human and Inanimate Form
DGP11302 / C302 - Enterprise and Entrepreneurship: Making it Happen
DGP11303/C303 - Major Project Report
DGP11304 - Location and Studio
DGP11305 - Live Project
DGP11306 - Major Project
DGP11307 - Self Initiated
The given feedback for all modules was always critical and additional support is
offered if needed. The feedback reflects on the assessed elements and a good band
of marks was used throughout.
The learning outcomes were clearly stated (and understood by the students) and
assessed appropriately. All work presented had been internally verified within the
teaching team, and seemed to be rigorous, fair and consistent.
3. Student Performance
Please comment on: (a) particular strengths and weaknesses revealed during your
involvement in the assessment process (but do not mention individual students by
name); (b) the distribution of marks; (c) whether student performance is comparable
to similar courses in your experience. (Normally write between 100- 200 words)
Having two shows to present the final 3rd year work might have put extra pressure
on students. The event at Brick Lane was a great success and should also help to
showcase the excellent work produced to a much wider audience.
Overall, the work produced by students matches that of other institutions and
students are very well prepared for their life after graduation.
The confidence and knowledge gained throughout the course will be beneficial when
finding their feet in a professional world. The content delivered over the three years
matches the needs in professional photographic industries.
4. Appropriateness of Assessment
Please comment upon appropriateness of the assessments. In particular: (a) were
the assessment requirements appropriate to the level of the award, and (b) did the
assessment methods allow each student to demonstrate achievement of the learning
outcomes (Normally write between 100- 200 words)
The assessment of all modules mentioned above is appropriate and allows for
deeper learning. Students with varying strength achieved the learning outcomes and
strength as well as possible improvements are visible to the student. The feedback
was always positive, critical and constructive and student understand the rigour of
the assessment, the assessment criteria and are able to improve their work within the
three years.
5. Quality Enhancement of the Student Experience
In your opinion, within its stated aims and outcomes, what recommendations would
you make that could enhance and improve the student experience of this course
(Normally write between 100- 200 words)
The course found its unique position within photography education within the last 4
years. Staff (technical and academic) are passionate and dedicated as mentioned by
a lot of students. Extra curricular activities (i.e. 24h) are very well received and
benefit the cohort.
The increase in student numbers over the last three years demonstrates this
strength, but it must be matched by an increase in resources, staff and support. The
limited dedicated spaces for photography (i.e. professional studios, printing facilities,
etc) might dampen the student experience.
The course manages successfully to link with external professional photographic
industries and this should be continued as much as possible, even with bigger
cohorts.
6. Any Other Comments
Please give comments on any matter(s) not raised elsewhere that you feel would be
helpful arising from the assessments and the assessment process. (if you choose
to make any comments, normally write between 100- 200 words)
7. Account Taken of Previous Comments
If you have acted as an External Examiner for this course before, are you satisfied
that the comments made in your previous report have been adequately considered.
(Normally write between 100- 200 words)
Yes, the discussions held and comments by myself were all considered and the
course leader and course staff constantly review the course, its strength as well as its
position with the wider photographic community.
8. Overview of your tenure
If this is your final year please give us a brief overview of your tenure as an External
Examiner for the University1. (Normally write between 100- 200 words)
As this is my final year as External Examiner at Ravensbourne, some reflective
comments on my tenure over the last four years.
The successful increase in student numbers demonstrates the attractiveness of the
course and its position in photographic education within London. As the course is
only in its 5th year this should be considered a great success.
Staff teaching on the course have always been highly respected by the students, and
go to great lengths to ensure that all students have a good learning experience
during their time at the college. Work was always assessed with rigour, fairness and
consistency. Staff have encouraged students to experiment which has led to some
highly creative and successful work and a lot of the students found their professional
role within photography after graduating.
When completed, please return this pro forma electronically to:
Philip Broadhead
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic
at: examiners@arts.ac.uk
* The University of the Arts London acknowledges the University of Surrey for this disclaimer.
1
The overview of your tenure is a requirement of QAA UK Quality Code for Higher Education on external examining
and will be useful for both the University and the replacement external examiner