New review on external examiners is 'missed opportunity'
7 April 2011
UCU says report has failed to give external examiners the support they need.
UCU today warned that academics could be deterred from becoming external examiners after a new report failed to recommend better pay and service conditions.
Responding to Universities UK's Review of external examining arrangements, the union said the review had 'missed an opportunity' to offer external examiners decent support and recognition, and warned that external examining would continue be seen as a 'Cinderella service'.
The union said institutions weren't giving staff enough time off to undertake external examining and that without a proper national rate of pay it would remain unattractive to many academics.
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'This review is a missed opportunity.External examiners are vital to ensuring quality and standards in UK higher education, but are rarely given adequate time off or remuneration. Unless employers tackle problems such as low pay and high workloads, it will continue to be viewed by many as a Cinderella service.
'I am pleased that institutions are being urged to recognise the importance of external examination when considering promotions, but today's recommendations don't go far enough. Without a decent national rate of pay many of our brightest academics will be put off from becoming external examiners, which would be bad for students and higher education.'
Responding to Universities UK's Review of external examining arrangements, the union said the review had 'missed an opportunity' to offer external examiners decent support and recognition, and warned that external examining would continue be seen as a 'Cinderella service'.
The union said institutions weren't giving staff enough time off to undertake external examining and that without a proper national rate of pay it would remain unattractive to many academics.
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'This review is a missed opportunity.External examiners are vital to ensuring quality and standards in UK higher education, but are rarely given adequate time off or remuneration. Unless employers tackle problems such as low pay and high workloads, it will continue to be viewed by many as a Cinderella service.
'I am pleased that institutions are being urged to recognise the importance of external examination when considering promotions, but today's recommendations don't go far enough. Without a decent national rate of pay many of our brightest academics will be put off from becoming external examiners, which would be bad for students and higher education.'
- PrintPrint this page
- Share
Comments