External Examiner for HNC Civil Engineering, Building and Foundation Civil Engineering programs

External Examiner for HNC Civil Engineering, Building and Foundation Civil Engineering programs

The role of External Examiner is a crucial and central part of the quality assurance and enhancement procedures. The role is to ensure that each student is assessed fairly and that the standard of the University’s awards is maintained, in line with principles of academic freedom and lawful expression.

External Examiners are expected to provide informative comment and recommendation upon whether:

• a) the institution is maintaining the threshold academic standards set for its awards in accordance with the framework for Higher Education Qualifications and applicable subject benchmark statements;
• b) the assessment processes measure student achievement rigorously and fairly against the intended outcomes of the course(s) and is conducted in line with the institution’s policies and regulations;
• c) the academic standards and achievements of students are comparable with those in other UK higher education institutions of which the external examiners have experience.

External examiners are also expected to provide informative comments and recommendations on:

• a) good practice and innovation relating to learning, teaching and assessment observed by the external examiner;
• b) opportunities to enhance the quality of the learning opportunities provided to students

An appointment is normally for four years, with a possible extension of one year.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of External Examiners appointed by the University are as below:

• a) To judge each student impartially based on the work submitted for assessment, without being influenced by previous association with the course, the staff, or any of the students;
• b) To compare the performance of students with that of their peers on comparable courses in other institutions of higher education in the United Kingdom;
• c) To approve the form and content of the proposed examination papers and coursework assignments, and sample any assessment that counts towards any particular award, in order to ensure that each candidate will be assessed fairly in relation to the course syllabus and Regulations and in such a way that the External Examiner(s) will be able to judge whether each student has fulfilled the intended learning outcomes of the course and reached the required standard;
• d) To be consulted about, and agree to, any proposed changes to the assessment Regulations which will directly affect students currently on the course.
• e) To attend Board of Examiners meetings as are prescribed.
• f) To have the right to see all the work of all the candidates to ensure that each candidate is fairly placed in relation to the whole of the cohort.
• g) To have the right to moderate the marks awarded by the internal examiners.
• h) To ensure that the assessments are conducted in accordance with the University\’s Academic Regulations and the relevant course regulations.
• i) To endorse the outcomes of the assessment process they have been appointed to oversee.
• j) To participate as required in reviews of decisions about individual students\’ awards.
• k) To have access to any candidate or group of candidates to seek their views regarding their experience of the module or course as practicable, in consultation with the Course Director or equivalent.
• l) To report annually to the University on the assessment process as part of the University’s annual quality assurance procedures.
• m) To report to the Vice-Chancellor, as the University\’s Chief Executive and Chair of Academic Board, on any matters of serious concern arising from the assessments, which put at risk the standard of the University\’s awards.

Person specification

The University will appoint external examiners who can show evidence of the following:

• a) Knowledge and understanding of UK sector agreed reference points for the maintenance of academic standards and assurance and enhancement of quality.
• b) Competence and experience in the fields covered by the programme of study, or parts thereof.
• c) Relevant academic and/or professional qualifications to at least the level of the qualification being externally examined, and/or extensive practitioner experience where appropriate.
• d) Competence and experience relating to designing and operating a variety of assessment tasks appropriate to the subject and operating assessment procedures.
• e) Sufficient standing, credibility and breadth of experience within the discipline to be able to command the respect of academic peers and, where appropriate, professional peers.
• f) Familiarity with the standard to be expected of students to achieve the award that is to be assessed.
• g) Fluency in English, and where programmes are delivered and assessed in languages other than English, fluency in the relevant language(s) (unless other secure arrangements are in place to ensure that external examiners are provided with the information to make their judgements).
• h) Meeting applicable criteria set by professional, statutory or regulatory bodies.
• i) Awareness of current developments in the design and delivery of relevant curricula.
• j) Competence and experience relating to the enhancement of the student learning experience.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Other

Job function

• Education and Training

Industries

• Higher Education