Hi there,

 

Can the following advert be sent to the EXTERNAL-EXAMINERS mailing list please:

 

External Panel Member for Module Results Approval and Qualifications Classification Panel (MRAQCP)

 

At The Open University based in Milton Keynes we are currently seeking the External Panel Member for Module Result Approval Qualification Classification Panel (MRAQCP). This Panel has responsibility for ratifying module results and approving award classifications. The term of office is for 4 years and an honorarium is payable. The External Panel member will be a member of the academic staff of a UK University.

 

The Open University places great emphasis on the External Examiner system, feels that it has benefited substantially from the support it has received from External Examiners and continues to give a high priority to responding to the advice given by them. The schedule of MRAQCP meetings follows the cycle of module presentations and there will be 8 meetings annually that require the involvement of the External Panel member.

 

Governance structure for the award of credit and qualifications:

 

·         Module Result Panel (MRP)

For each of the University’s modules there is a formally constituted MRP with membership drawn from the internal academic staff of the OU. The major roles of each MRP are to design and implement the module assessments, to set the standards for assessment marking and to bring forward a provisional module result for each student when they have completed their study of the module.

 

·         Cluster Examination and Assessment Board (Cluster EAB)

The modules of the University’s curriculum are ‘clustered’ in cognate groups – in most cases the clusters are based on subject content – typically there are 15-20 modules in a cluster. For each cluster there is a formally constituted Cluster EAB with membership drawn from the leading internal academic staff of the relevant subject areas and at least one (but often more than one) External Examiner. The primary roles of each Cluster EAB are to ensure that quality standards are implemented and maintained and to formally recommend the result for each student who has completed study of one or more modules in the cluster. Where there is more than one External Examiner member of a Cluster EAB, each External Examiner is asked to focus on a sub-group of the modules in the cluster known as an External Examiner Module Group (EEMG).

 

* *          Module Result Approval and Qualification Classification Panel (MRAQCP)          * *

The MRAQCP is an internal body which, on behalf of the University’s Senate, receives the recommendations from Cluster EABs, ratifies and approves the award of module credit, qualifications and qualification classification.

 

Mode of Operation

1. The panel shall meet as and when required.

2. There shall be a quorum of 50% plus 1 for business to be transacted.

3. In instances where the panel exercises its discretion to withhold ratification, it shall consult with the Chair/s of the appropriate Module Result Panels and Cluster Examination and Assessment Boards (EABs) and Assessment Panels to determine the result/s to be awarded.

4. The panel shall satisfy itself that arrangements are made for advising Chairs of the Module Result Panels and Cluster EABs on the application of Senate approved guidelines.

5. In instances where the panel exercises its discretion to withhold ratification of an award recommendation from a validated institution it shall consult with the relevant authorities within that institution to determine the awards to be conferred.

6. The Panel shall provide a report each year to the Qualifications and Assessment Committee, such reports to include statistical information on module results and awards conferred, together with any recommendations for changes to policies, procedures or guidelines.

7. The Chair or Deputy Chair of the panel shall have executive authority to act on behalf of the panel in consultation with the panel's secretary.

 

The meeting dates for the next academic year are:

7 September 2018

26 October 2018

7 December 2018

8 March 2019

29 April 2019

7 June 2019

19 July 2019

26 July 2019

 

If you are interested then please email your CV and expression of interest to [log in to unmask] by 27 July 2019.

 

Thank you

Bhavasree

 

 

Bhavasree K Yang

Manager, Policy Advice and Committee Support and MRAQCP working secretary

Assessment, Credit and Qualifications, Academic Services

 

The Open University, First Floor Joe Clinch building,

Hammerwood Gate, Kents Hill, Milton Keynes, MK7 6BY
Tel: +44 (0) 1908 653333