Academic & Student Support Services
Academic Registrar Simon Wright LLB
Gwasanaethau Academaidd a Chefnogi Myfyrwyr
Cofrestrydd Academaidd Simon Wright LLB
Cardiff University
McKenzie House
30-36 Newport Road
Cardiff CF24 ODE
Tel Ffôn l +44(0)29 2087 9189
www.cardiff.ac.uk
Prifysgol Caerdydd
Tŷ McKenzie
30-36 Heol Casnewydd
Caerdydd CF24 ODE
Sent by email to [email protected]
21 July 2016
Dear Dr Ekárt,
Re: Institutional Response: External Examiner Annual Report 2014– 2015
I am writing further to the receipt of your 2014-2015 External Examiner Report for all
COMSC MSc programmes, dated 16 June 2016.
Your Report has been considered by the School in accordance with our approved
procedures. I am, therefore, now in a position to respond on behalf of the ViceChancellor to the main points you had raised.
Issue(s) Highlighted:
1.
Your indication that the “checking of the correctness of marking other than
simple omissions or calculation errors, in particular of multiple choice
questions needs attention from academic staff members”.
2.
Your recommendation that “whenever disagreements between the two
markers arise, explanations of the resolution are added on the forms in all
cases”.
3.
Your detailed observations on dissertation marking, particularly where there
are “big discrepancies in the marks (or an initial pass and a fail) of the two
internal examiners”.
Cardiff University
McKenzie House
30-36 Newport Road
Cardiff CF24 0DE
Tel Ffôn l +44(0)29 2087 9189
www.cardiff.ac.uk
Prifysgol Caerdydd
Tŷ McKenzie
30-36 Heol Casnewydd
Caerdydd CF24 0DE
Tel Ffôn l +44(0)29 2087 9189
www.caerdydd.ac.uk
4.
Your recommendation that automatic plagiarism checking is introduced for
dissertations.
The following response has been provided on behalf of the School:
1.
A new moderation procedure was approved by the School’s Teaching,
Learning and Academic Quality Committee and Board of Studies for UGT and
PGT programmes in the 2014/5 academic year. This applies to all
assessments (exams and coursework) which contribute at least 50% to a
module. Directly after first marking, the moderator will review the marks for a
representative sample of scripts (including at least the square root of the
number of students undertaking the assignment and all those below the pass
mark) and where discrepancies arise, remedies will be considered by a small
panel of staff. A summary of these meetings and proposed outcome will be
provided to the external examiners in advance of the exam board.
The School’s Teaching, Learning and Academic Quality Committee will be
asked to consider the appropriate use and moderation of multiple choice
questions at MSc level.
2.
The two markers are now asked to complete a justification of their agreed
mark in all cases.
3.
In addition to assigning a number of individual projects to the external
examiners, they are now given access to all dissertations together with the
individual and agreed marks of the supervisor and moderator.
4.
This will be raised at the School’s Teaching, Learning and Academic Quality
Committee.
The University is pleased to note your positive comments including:
1.
2.
your positive indications regarding the programme structure, academic
standards and assessment process
your report of an improvement in the MSc dissertation marking following
recommendations from the previous year.
I hope that you will find this response satisfactory and we thank you for your
continued support of the programme.
In order to meet the expectations of the QAA Quality Code, both the External
Examiner Annual Report and this Institutional Response will be published on the
University website and will be available to all students and staff.
The University’s provision of the formal Institutional Response is not intended to
constrain direct communication between schools and their External Examiners.
Schools are encouraged to discuss with their External Examiners any matters of
Cardiff University
McKenzie House
30-36 Newport Road
Cardiff CF24 0DE
Tel Ffôn l +44(0)29 2087 9189
www.cardiff.ac.uk
Prifysgol Caerdydd
Tŷ McKenzie
30-36 Heol Casnewydd
Caerdydd CF24 0DE
Tel Ffôn l +44(0)29 2087 9189
www.caerdydd.ac.uk
detail raised in their Reports and, more widely, any issues impacting on the quality
and standards of awards, including possible changes to programmes.
We are most grateful for your comments and for your support in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
Mr Simon Wright
Academic Registrar
Cardiff University
McKenzie House
30-36 Newport Road
Cardiff CF24 0DE
Tel Ffôn l +44(0)29 2087 9189
www.cardiff.ac.uk
Prifysgol Caerdydd
Tŷ McKenzie
30-36 Heol Casnewydd
Caerdydd CF24 0DE
Tel Ffôn l +44(0)29 2087 9189
www.caerdydd.ac.uk