Acting as External Examiners in the UK: Going Beyond Quality Assurance

Amudha Poobalan; Padam Simkhada; Edwin van Teijlingen

doi:10.1108/S2055-364120210000038002

Acting as External Examiners in the UK: Going Beyond Quality Assurance

Amudha Poobalan, Padam Simkhada, Edwin van Teijlingen

Applied Health Sciences

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

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Abstract

Traditionally the role of the external examiners in UK universities or more formally Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is that of quality assurance (QA). Typically, an experienced academic who is not affiliated with the HEI (i.e., someone from another university) is invited to act as an external examiner for a particular course or a module. The external examiner’s primary role is to provide impartial and independent advice to ensure academic standards are upheld for a degree program; and that the degree is comparable with similar programs across the country and that the achievements of students are also comparable with students on courses at other universities. This primary role makes external examiners highly valued people in UK universities, and as a result, their views are nearly always taken seriously. Over and above this recognized primary role of QA, external examiners can also be engaged by the host university in other ways. These additional roles or tasks of the external examiner can help enhance teaching and learning in higher education. This chapter will reflect on the range of roles, including the ones that go beyond QA.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	The Role of External Examining in Higher Education
Subtitle of host publication	Challenges and Best Practices
Editors	Enakshi Sengupta, Patrick Blessinger, Andrew Ssemwanga, Barbara Cozza
Publisher	Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Chapter	2
Pages	13-23
Number of pages	11
Volume	38
ISBN (Print)	978-1-83982-174-5 , 978-1-83982-175-2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1108/S2055-364120210000038002
Publication status	Published - 17 May 2021

Publication series

Name	Innovations in Higher Education Teaching and Learning
ISSN (Electronic)	2055-3641

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Poobalan, A., Simkhada, P., & van Teijlingen, E. (2021). Acting as External Examiners in the UK: Going Beyond Quality Assurance. In E. Sengupta, P. Blessinger, A. Ssemwanga, & B. Cozza (Eds.), The Role of External Examining in Higher Education: Challenges and Best Practices (Vol. 38, pp. 13-23). (Innovations in Higher Education Teaching and Learning). Emerald Group Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2055-364120210000038002

Acting as External Examiners in the UK: Going Beyond Quality Assurance. / Poobalan, Amudha; Simkhada, Padam; van Teijlingen, Edwin.
The Role of External Examining in Higher Education: Challenges and Best Practices. ed. / Enakshi Sengupta; Patrick Blessinger; Andrew Ssemwanga; Barbara Cozza. Vol. 38 Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2021. p. 13-23 (Innovations in Higher Education Teaching and Learning).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Poobalan, A, Simkhada, P & van Teijlingen, E 2021, Acting as External Examiners in the UK: Going Beyond Quality Assurance. in E Sengupta, P Blessinger, A Ssemwanga & B Cozza (eds), The Role of External Examining in Higher Education: Challenges and Best Practices. vol. 38, Innovations in Higher Education Teaching and Learning, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp. 13-23. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2055-364120210000038002

Poobalan A, Simkhada P, van Teijlingen E. Acting as External Examiners in the UK: Going Beyond Quality Assurance. In Sengupta E, Blessinger P, Ssemwanga A, Cozza B, editors, The Role of External Examining in Higher Education: Challenges and Best Practices. Vol. 38. Emerald Group Publishing Limited. 2021. p. 13-23. (Innovations in Higher Education Teaching and Learning). doi: 10.1108/S2055-364120210000038002

Poobalan, Amudha ; Simkhada, Padam ; van Teijlingen, Edwin. / Acting as External Examiners in the UK : Going Beyond Quality Assurance. The Role of External Examining in Higher Education: Challenges and Best Practices. editor / Enakshi Sengupta ; Patrick Blessinger ; Andrew Ssemwanga ; Barbara Cozza. Vol. 38 Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2021. pp. 13-23 (Innovations in Higher Education Teaching and Learning).

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Acting as External Examiners in the UK: Going Beyond Quality Assurance

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