Chapter 13 - Review and publication of degree outcomes

  1. Review and publication of degree outcomes
    1. Introduction
      1. This section sets out the University of Exeter’s commitment to an annual cycle of internally reviewing and externally publishing data and analysis on the degree outcomes for its taught programmes. This commitment provides assurance that the University:
        1. Meets the conditions of registration with the Office for Students (OfS) in relation to delivering successful outcomes for all students, ensuring that qualifications are credible and hold their value over time and associated programmes of study meet sector-recognised academic standards;
        2. Meets the expectations of the UK Standing Committee on Quality Assessment (UKSCQA) in relation to ensuring transparency, reliability and fairness of degree outcomes for all students, including through the use of external assurance;
        3. Protects the academic integrity of University of Exeter Awards, in the interests of its current students and past graduates;
        4. Works to ensure that barriers to success are removed and awarding gaps are closed and where possible eliminated; and
        5. Presents prospective and current undergraduate students, partners, stakeholders and other interested parties with data and information on degree outcomes.
    2. Annual Internal Review of Degree Outcomes
      1. Undergraduate Programmes

        The University, in consultation with the Principal External Examiner, should conduct an annual internal review of the classifications awarded to final year students on undergraduate programmes during Term One of the academic year. Data shall include that from a minimum of five years up to and including the previous academic year. The review shall cover the following areas:
        1. An analysis of University degree classification profile including:
          1. Five-year trends in degree classifications
          2. Five-year comparative trends by Higher Education sector
          3. Five-year comparative trends by demographic groups (disaggregated where possible)
        2. An analysis of any changes to:
          1. Teaching and learning practices
          2. Teaching and learning resources
          3. Assessment and marking practices
          4. Degree algorithms and awarding decisions
        3. Identification of good practice and actions to respond to grade inflation
        4. Identification of good practice and actions to address awarding gaps
        5. An assessment of the impact of any policy change
        6. Identification of future risks and challenges

          The outcomes of the review, including appropriate presentation and analysis of data, shall be reported to the Education Board and Senate by the end of Term Two.

          The outcomes of the review shall be shared with the Principal External Examiner and the University Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee and shall inform the content and presentation of the annual Degree Outcomes Statement (see section 13.4 below).

          The format of the report shall follow that of the template provided in Annex H.
      2. Postgraduate Taught Programmes

        The University, in consultation with the Principal External Examiner, should conduct an annual internal review of the classifications awarded to students on postgraduate taught programmes during Term Two of the academic year. Data shall include that from a minimum of five years up to and including the previous academic year. The review shall cover the following areas:
        1. An analysis of University degree classification profile including:
          1. Five-year trends in degree classifications
          2. Five-year comparative trends by Higher Education sector (subject to the availability of relevant datasets)
          3. Five-year comparative trends by demographic groups (disaggregated where possible)
        2. An analysis of any changes to:
          1. Teaching and learning practices
          2. Teaching and learning resources
          3. Assessment and marking practices
          4. Degree algorithms and awarding decisions
        3. Identification of good practice and actions to respond to grade inflation
        4. Identification of good practice and actions to address awarding gaps
        5. An assessment of the impact of any policy change
        6. Identification of future risks and challenges

          The outcomes of the review, including appropriate presentation and analysis of data, shall be reported to the Education Board and Senate by the end of Term Three.

          The outcomes of review shall be shared with the Principal External Examiner and the University Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee.

          The format of the report shall follow that of the template provided in Annex H.
    3. Annual External Publication of a Degree Outcomes Statement
      1. The University, under the external scrutiny of Principal External Examiner, should publish an annual Degree Outcomes Statement in line with the expectations and guidance set out by the United Kingdom Standing Committee on Quality Assurance (UKSCQA) by the end of each academic year. The statement will be based on undergraduate programme data only, from five consecutive academic years up to and including that preceding the academic year just concluded. The statement will include the following:
        1. Purpose of the report
        2. Institutional degree classification profile
        3. Assessment and marking practices
        4. Academic governance
        5. Classification algorithms
        6. Teaching practices and learning resources
        7. Good practice and actions

          The format of the statement shall follow that of the template provided in Annex I.
      2. Prior to publication, the Degree Outcomes Statement shall be subject to review and approval by the Education Board, Senate and Council.
      3. The Degree Outcomes Statement shall not be published until it has been approved, as an accurate representation of the outcomes of the internal review of undergraduate degree outcomes, by the Principal External Examiner.


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