QUB denies body of workers careworn to offer upper grades

An electronic mail observed by way of BBC Information NI suggests to a couple body of workers at Queen’s College Belfast (QUB) that they will have to observe that upper marks are awarded at competing universities when bearing in mind the best way to grade their very own scholars.

The interior electronic mail to body of workers on the QUB Trade College tells them to “please undergo this in thoughts” when marking scholars paintings.

A whistleblower, who spoke to BBC Information NI anonymously, claimed teachers felt beneath force to extend marks.

However a college spokesperson stated it “totally and completely refutes any advice that body of workers in its Trade College were put beneath force of any type to inflate the grades of our scholars”.

In a observation, the spokesperson additionally stated the college had “a stringent oversight mechanism involving more than one ranges of interior and exterior scrutiny and high quality exams of training, evaluation, and staining processes”.

“Drawing on information from related universities and programmes is one facet of this procedure – to reiterate, this can be a usual observe and certainly not outstanding,” they endured.

The Trade College is likely one of the college’s primary departments, with about 150 instructional body of workers.

The e-mail despatched to body of workers within the faculty all through the Would possibly 2024 examination marking length stated that Queen’s was once awarding marks “round seven share issues much less” than for Russell Workforce comparators.

It stated the common mark for ultimate yr modules in Trade Control was once “round 59”.

“As you’re marking over the following couple of weeks, please take note of how related establishments (and different Faculties at Queen’s) are grading,” it stated.

“To reach equivalent stage classifications to different Russell Workforce control programmes our preliminary research suggests we will have to be taking a look (at Programme degree) in opposition to moderate marks of 62 in first yr, 64 in 2d yr and 66 within the ultimate yr.

“Please undergo this in thoughts whilst marking and moderating modules.”

The e-mail stated fuller steerage can be revealed for body of workers by way of the varsity.

Nevertheless it additionally informed them that if the module or path they have been marking “is prone to deviate greater than two-three share issues from those averages, please talk for your programme director(s) within the first example”.

“They are able to paintings with Heads of Division and the UG Director of Schooling to believe changes.”

UG stands for undergraduate, however the whistleblower claimed to BBC Information NI that some body of workers additionally felt beneath force over marks for postgraduate {qualifications}.

The Russell Workforce is the umbrella identify for 24 main universities throughout the United Kingdom, of which Queen’s is a member.

The e-mail despatched to body of workers within the QUB Trade College additionally integrated research performed by way of a named senior body of workers member evaluating stage grades awarded at Queen’s for Trade Control and the ones awarded in Control Research at different Russell Workforce universities.

It stated that whilst, for example, 14% of QUB Trade Control levels have been awarded the highest 1st grade, round 35% of Control Research levels at different Russell Workforce universities have been awarded a 1st.

“We will have to be bearing in mind those distributions when marking,” the record stated.

When contacted by way of BBC Information NI, a QUB spokesperson stated it “totally and completely refutes any advice” that body of workers in its Trade College have been put beneath force to inflate the grades of scholars.

“As a number one college throughout the United Kingdom and Eire, and member of the Russell Workforce, we – like different universities – observe a number of metrics to regularly benchmark our scholars towards a variety of peer establishments in terms of pupil results and the employability possibilities of our graduates,” they endured.

“This knowledge-driven way underpins our high quality assurance and enhancement processes and is totally in line with observe inside the United Kingdom and the world over.

“We observe a rigorous governance procedure within the design and supply of all our programmes with tough high quality assurance mechanisms in keeping with nationwide regulatory frameworks, with our programmes keeping up accreditations with reputed world skilled our bodies the place related.

“As a Russell Workforce college, we’re regularly reviewing how we assess proper around the College as era continues to conform and alter the way in which scholars be told, and we’ve a stringent oversight mechanism involving more than one ranges of interior and exterior scrutiny and high quality exams of training, evaluation, and staining processes.

“Drawing on information from related universities and programmes is one facet of this procedure – to reiterate, this can be a usual observe and certainly not outstanding.”