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Thematic enquiriesBackground

The first stage of the ‘Thematic enquiries into concerns about academic quality and standards in higher education in England' project aimed to identify whether there was evidence to support assertions made in the media and elsewhere in any of the following five areas:

  • student workload and contact hours
  • English language requirements for international students
  • recruitment practices for international students
  • the use of external examiners
  • assessment practices.

The project’s first stage involved a detailed analysis of media coverage, comments and blogs as well as in depth interviews and focus group discussions with people from across the higher education sector. Published and unpublished reports, papers, lectures and speeches on the five areas of the project have also been examined.

Progress report - March 2009 (PDF)

The project’s first stage has involved a detailed analysis of media coverage, comments and blogs as well as in depth interviews and focus group discussions with people from across the higher education sector.  Published and unpublished reports, papers, lectures and speeches on the five areas of the project have also been examined.

The progress report suggests that there is evidence to support further scrutiny of the emerging evidence and concerns in a number of areas:  

  • the range of contact hours appropriate to the student learning experience
  • guidance offered to international students about UK higher education and the support arrangements that international students should expect from higher education institutions
  • processes use to identify, train and support external examiners
  • the assessment and degree classification practices used by higher education institutions
  • effective ways of informing the general public about academic standards and quality in higher education and the ways they are assured.

The progress report and final report (May 2009) has also been sent to the House of Commons' Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee inquiry into students and universities. Find out more about the final project report.

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