UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
EXTERNAL EXAMINERS’ REPORTS:
CLES POSTGRADUATE TAUGHT PROGRAMMES OVERVIEW 2013/14
1
Introduction
1.1
This paper forms a general overview; highlighting good practice, common themes and key recommendations highlighted by the 18 External
Examiners’ Reports for CLES postgraduate taught programmes. The standard online report form for postgraduate programmes was used by all
External Examiners.
1.2
It should be noted that External Examiners reports are effectively monitored through the University’s Quality Review Framework section on
External Examining.
2
Good Practice
2.1
Of the External Examiners 17 highlighted aspects of good practice as follows:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
(vii)
(viii)
(ix)
The dedicated staff teaching on research-led, innovative programmes with an interesting range of modules;
The diverse practical, field-based training the students receive;
The rich and encouraging feedback provided to students;
The pathfinder work into the use of distance learning materials for parts of the research teaching for Psychological Therapies
(Psychodynamic Strand) which has been well received;
The excellent level of reflection that students are required to undertake on their clinical practice;
The variety of creative assessment methods which allow students to display learning outcomes effectively;
The use of SWOT analysis in the Biotechnology and Enterprise research project;
The responsiveness of staff to suggestions for improvement;
The professional conduct of the Board of Examiners meeting.
3
Common Themes/Key Recommendations:
3.1
Those recommendations categorised as Essential, Advisable and Desirable are outlined below:
Theme
Essential
2
Externals
made
recommendations:
Teaching and learning
Assessment
Advisable
Advisable 6
Externals
made
Advisable
recommendations:
 Psychology – 2 Externals noted that
more advanced statistical training
should be provided, as relative to
other MSc programmes of which the
External is aware, the statistics here
are taught to a lower level.
 Psychology - The School should
modify curriculum or assessment, to
ensure that the marks gained by
students in the core statistical
module are not too high. The current
mean of 75% appears too high, is at
odds with performance on other
modules, and is awarded in the
context of statistical training that is
Desirable
13
Externals
made
Desirable
recommendations:
 Clinical Psychology – Focus on
teaching funnelling skills.
 Biosciences
and
Geography
(Penryn) - It may be worth
considering
whether
students
should compulsorily be required to
take at least one module from the
GEO and BIO courses, forcing interdisciplinarity.
 Psychology – The observational
study
work
should
stay
observational,
not
drift
into
interviews and focus groups.
 Geography (Penryn) – The External
suggests that there is a need to find
a way to manage the expectations
of students in a positive way for all
on the course.
 Psychology – The External makes a
number
of
suggestions
for
improvement of PSYM202. Further
detail is provided in the report.
 Biosciences (Penryn) - A number of
students commented that workloads
were
occasionally
difficult
depending on module options being
chosen
and
the
timing
of
assessments. Students should be
encouraged to be mindful of
workload
implications
when
choosing options.
Marking and moderation
Feedback
not particularly difficult for MSc level.
 Psychology – 2 Externals feel that  Geography (Streatham) – The  Sport and Health Sciences – The
the School should review its marking
External would like to see the
External feels that there is still some
standards and policies in light of the
provision of moderation forms and a
under marking.
influx of students whose English
paper-trail of how moderation was  Geography (Penryn) - There is a
language
and
background
undertaken.
tendency for staff to cluster
psychological skills may not be to the
assessment marks within a narrow
standard that have been typically
band of 55 to 65. The different win
expected on this leading MSc
standard between marks at these
programme. The External suggests
two levels is often much greater
that the School formulate a coherent
than a 10 percentage point
and principled response to the
difference.
Staff should be
challenge of meeting the increasingly
encouraged to use a wider range of
diverse needs of their intake fairly
marks to reflect more fully
and consistently.
differences in work quality.
 Geography (Penryn) - While there is
evidence of mark moderation on the
coursework feedback sheets; the
External would encourage staff to
adopt a systematic approach to the
use of mark moderation sheets for
modules in order to render this
process more explicit.
 Biosciences (Penryn) – There was a
narrow range of marks for the Key
Skills and Africa Field Course
modules again this year.
The
External suggests weighting the
different
components
to
see
whether
greater
differentiation
between students can be achieved.
 SWDTC – The External would like
to see the provision of marginal
comments on course work and a
clearer indication of marking criteria
and descriptors.
 Geography
(Penryn)/Sport
and  Sport and Health Sciences Health Sciences – Staff should be
Continue to cross-check feedback
Dissertations
encouraged
to
provide
typed
quantity and quality and make sure
feedback for ease of comprehension
marks match comments.
by students and External Examiners.  SWDTC – The External indicates
that feedback sheets should be type
written
and
include
the
essay/project title.
 Geography (Streatham) – The
External suggests that greater care
could be used in the choice of
language employed to describe
work of particular grades in
feedback to students, and more
consistency is needed in the level of
feedback provided by individual
assessors.
 Psychology – the Head of
Department should identify staff that
provide insufficient feedback and
require them to provide it more
completely and quickly in future.
 Sport and Health Sciences – The  Biosciences (Penryn) - It may be
department should continue to
worth developing guidelines for
monitor dissertation performance in
dissertations which clarify that these
"social science" areas of exercise
can take multiple forms, ranging
and sport science as you move to
from conventional academic papers
journal article only.
through to consultancy reports, and
appropriate criteria for assessment
 Geography
(Penryn)
The
should be developed.
dissertations were mostly 8000
words, which is too short to conduct  Biosciences (Penryn) – All markers
a research project. There was an
should justify their marks for the
option to do a 15000 word
project (both CA and report) using
dissertation, which two students took
the criteria required. In a few cases
up and they were the only two to
the report had not been annotated,
achieve distinctions. The External
and outstanding marks were not
strongly recommends enforcing a
matched by outstanding comments.
15000 word dissertation.
 Biosciences (Penryn) - The need for
 Geography
(Penryn)
Most
proof reading and immaculate
students give perfunctory treatment
presentation,
including
the
Processes
to methodology in dissertations.
references at the end of the report
This is an important issue in a
should be reinforced to students.
research project and while students
Then the markers should penalise
receive
effective
teaching
in
failures in this regard when it comes
methodology most do not carry it
to the project report.
through in their own projects. This  Biosciences (Penryn) - Although a
suggests
that
supervisors
of
diverse range of research projects
dissertations should pay close
are offered to students, fewer
attention to this issue in future.
mainstream conservation or applied
ecology projects are being offered
 Psychology
Double-marking
procedures for dissertations should
than there are students wishing to
be
made
more
robust
and
do projects in these areas. This
transparent.
reflects a mismatch between the
research interests of academic staff
and the MSc students. Where
possible the Department should
ensure there are options available
for students wishing to undertake
conservation or applied ecology
projects.
 Geography (Streatham) - The
course team should review the
GEOM421/GEOM423 dissertation
handbook and ensure that the
External’s
previous
advice
concerning the discussion section of
dissertations is emphasised.
 Geography (Penryn) – The External
wonders if the dissertation weighting
of 50% such an important marker
for an applied MSc.
 Geography
(Penryn)
–
The
Department should reflect on the
Module Evaluations by students
(more detail on this is provided in
the External’s report).
 Psychology - Several mark sheets
do not include the marker’s name
making it hard for Externals to
determine reasons for discrepancies
in feedback or standards.
The
External suggests including a field
for the markers’ initials.
 Psychology – All electronically
marked work should be provided to
external
examiners,
with
the
feedback included.
Staffing and Resources
Quality Review
February 2015
MAK/
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