January 2020
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
This conference will examine key issues for the UK degree classification system.
It follows the publication in October of two new measures from the UK Standing Committee for Quality Assessment (UKSCQA):
- The introduction of Degree Outcomes Statements whereby each HE provider must set out the steps they are taking to protect the value of the qualifications that are being offered; and
- A common set of Degree Classification Descriptions setting out the general criteria students should meet to reach each classification level for a bachelor’s degree.
Areas for discussion include:
- Implementation of the actions outlined in the statement of intent;
- Reviewing assessment and classification criteria across the sector, and transparency on the algorithms involved;
- Tackling ‘grade inflation’; and
- The scope for regulation and the possible future role of the Office for Students in regulating degree classification and outcomes
Speakers and chairs
The agenda includes keynote addresses from: Professor Andrew Wathey, Chair, UK Standing Committee for Quality Assessment; Dr Andrew Grayson, Associate Professor of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University and Douglas Blackstock, Chief Executive, QAA.
Further speakers include: Professor Kathleen Armour, University of Birmingham; Martin Birchall, High Fliers Research; Professor Brad Blitz, UCL Institute of Education; Alex Bols, UK Standing Committee for Quality Assessment and GuildHE; Professor Roger Cullis, Queen Mary University of London; Meg Price, Worcester Students’ Union; Tom Richmond, EDSK; Professor Nigel Seaton, Abertay University; and Dr Geoff Stoakes, Advance HE.
The chairs are: Lord Karan Bilimoria and Professor Stephen Pollock (Viscount Hanworth).
The agenda
- Key findings from the consultation on academic standards: common classification descriptions, Degree Outcome Statements, and external assessment;
- Priorities for delivering the statement of intent;
- Clarifying grade classification boundaries across the HE sector - classification structures, clear and accessible algorithms, and consistency on student assessment;
- Best practice in the review and implementation of fair classifications models; and
- Issues around ‘grade inflation’ - understanding the improvement in degree outcomes, protecting the value of qualifications, and ensuring rising grades match student attainment.
