Undergraduate External Examiners' Report Form 2010/11
Please note that reports should not include any reference to an individual candidate or member of staff by name. Reports will be shared with student representatives through Staff Student Liaison
Committees and must be released for requests under the Freedom of Information Act.
An External Examiner who considers it appropriate may send an additional report to the
ViceChancellor under separate cover marked ‘Strictly Confidential’.
Section 1: Office Information
Title
 Professor
 Dr
 Mr
 Mrs
 Ms
 Miss
 Other
Alternative Title
Surname
Miyairi
Home Institution
University of Hull
Which part of the University are you working with?

Social Sciences and International Studies

Life and Environmental Sciences

University of Exeter Business School

Humanities

Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences

Flexible Combined Honours and CMIT

IWE

INTO University of Exeter

Exeter College

The Learning Institute

South West Ministry Training Course
Departments within Social Sciences and International Studies

Education

Law
 Philosophy
 Politics and Sociology
 Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies
Departments within Life and Environmental Sciences


Biosciences
Geography
 Psychology
 Sport and Health Sciences
Departments within Humanities


Archaeology
Classics







Drama
English
Film
History
Modern Languages
Theology
Departments within Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences
 Engineering
 Mathematics
 Physical Sciences
 Camborne School of Mines
Title of programme/module, cluster of programmes/modules examined
Japanese Beginners (FLJ1130), Intermediate One (FLJ2230) and Intermediate Two (FLJ2330)
Section 2: Administration of the Examination Process
The following information was adequate for the purpose of external examining:
Programme handbook and
Agree

Neither agree or disagree

Disagree

Document not received
 documentation for students
Programme specifications
Programme aims, objectives and outcomes








Details of coursework, teaching and assessment methods
   
The administration of the assessment process was efficient in the following respects:
Agree Neither agree or Disagree
Time available for marking
Operation of the Board of

 disagree




Examiners
Quality of data presented to the
Board of Examiners
  
Is this your first year as an External Examiner for the University of Exeter?
 Yes  No
Did you have access to reports from previous External Examiners?
 Yes  No
Section 3: Academic Standards
Were the standards of the awards and award elements appropriately set with reference to:
National subject benchmarks
Yes

No

Not applicable

(where they exist)
The Framework for Higher   
Education Qualifications
Institutional programme specifications and other relevant information?
  
Are the stated aims of the programme(s) consistent with:
The structure of the award(s)
Yes

No


The content of the programme(s)
 
Are the programmes current and valid?
 Yes  No
The following aspects of the educational provision are of appropriate quality and standard in relation to comparable universities of which you have experience:
Agree Neither agree or
Course aims
Course structure and content in

 disagree


Disagree

 relation to the aims
Degree programme structure
Teaching methods
Assessment methods
Profile of degree classifications or grades
Mechanisms for course monitoring and review
Project work/dissertations appropriate to the course


















If you had concerns regarding academic standards, what improvements do you consider are necessary?
The level of student attainment is comparable with that of students in other UK universities, and where appropriate, universities outside the UK, in the following regards:
Agree Disagree
Continuous assessment
Examinations
Standards of degrees



Neither agree or disagree






Section 4: Programme Design, Content and Delivery
In your experience, were the standards comparable with previous years?

Yes

No

Not applicable
The curriculum aims, content and development were appropriate
 Agree  Neither agree or disagree
 Disagree
The overall balance of the programme(s) is appropriate
 Agree  Neither agree  Disagree or disagree
Are you examining a programme which is inter-disciplinary or Joint Honours?
 Yes  No
Do you have any observations you wish to make about the coherence and organisation of this programme?
Section 5: Assessment
Examinations

Did you receive draft examination papers for comment?
 Yes  No
The level, range, design and structure of the questions set were satisfactory
 Agree  Neither agree  Disagree or disagree
Did your duties include moderating the marking of papers?
 Yes  No
The standards of the first and second marking and/or moderation were satisfactory
 Agree  Neither agree  Disagree or disagree
Did you receive the marking schemes for written examination papers (where used)?
 Yes  No  Not applicable
Did you receive examination scripts for your modules?

Yes

No
If you received a sample, were you consulted about sampling criteria?

Yes

No
The time allowed for moderation was sufficient

Agree

Neither agree

Disagree or disagree
Assessed coursework
Did you have access to all the coursework that you needed to see?

Yes

No
Did you receive the marking schemes for assessed work (where used)?
 Yes  No  Not applicable
Employing the marking scheme it was possible to achieve an appropriate spread of marks based on the assessments

Agree

Neither agree

Disagree or disagree
The level, range, design and structure of the coursework set was satisfactory
 Agree  Neither agree or disagree
 Disagree
The standard of marking and feedback in assessed coursework was satisfactory
 Agree  Neither agree  Disagree or disagree
The time allowed for coursework moderation was sufficient
 Agree  Neither agree or disagree
 Disagree
Disability issues were adequately addressed in the assessment process
 Agree  Neither agree or disagree
 Disagree

In your opinion, are the academic unit's assessment procedures appropriate?
There is a good variety of tasks in the assessment, and each component of exam questions clearly identifies what language skills and knowledge are tested. The tutor has chosen a very good topic for the assessment as well. Your internal marking was conducted fairly and consistently, and marks awarded to the students in the final examination reflect their current level of language output in writing very well. I confirm that the validity and reliability of the assessment was very high.
Samples of your students’ work were well-organised, sorted and sent to the external examiner in plenty of tim e with very smooth communication among the tutor, university’s administration and the external examiner.
Did you attend the Board of Examiners meeting?
 Yes  No
In your experience, was the operation of the Board of Examiners efficient?

Yes

No
In your experience, were all the candidates dealt with fairly and objectively, including those who had submitted claims of impaired performance?

Yes

No
Were you satisfied with the recommendations of the Board of Examiners?

Yes

No
Section 6: Aspects of Good Practice
Please comment on any particular aspects of good practice in relation to the programme(s) which should be shared with the University and/or external audiences:
Your students performed very well, especially an excellent quality of language competence in writing and speaking was demonstrated in Japanese Intermediate One and Two. Your academic standards in all levels of module are comparable to, or even higher than those of other higher educational institutions.
Section 7: Recommendations
Where applicable, do you feel that the academic unit has made appropriate response to your comments or those made by previous External Examiners?

Yes

No

Unable to comment
Are there any issues that continue to raise concern?
Please state below any areas for improvement for the programme(s)/module(s):
Essential
None
Advisable
None
Desirable
None
Are you examining a programme which is offered to students on the Cornwall campus as well as students on Streatham and/or St Luke's campuses?

Yes

No
Do you have any observations on any specific issues in relation to these programmes?

Are there any suggestions for improvements that you wish to make about University procedures?
None
Section 8: General Comments
Is this your final year of appointment?
 Yes  No
Are there any particular observations you would like to make?
As I expressed my big thank-you at your Exam Board meeting, dated 15th June 2011, I have learned many good practices from your institution through working as an external examiner in Japanese for the past five years. You have established a good strong programme in Japanese, thanks to the tutor’s devotion to teaching and the Director's efficient management of the programme. I do hope that your Japanese course still develops further more.
Please note that a copy of your completed report will be sent to you in Word format by return.