QAA warning over degree shortcuts

Article Abstract:

The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) is drawing up a set of guidelines for the implementation of Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (Apel) after it emerged that Apel was being used by some universities to waive up to two-thirds of a student's course and award them a degree. Alan Smithers, professor of education at Liverpool University, noted that it is odd in the extreme that somebody can expect to be excused a chunk of their course as a result of their life experiences, adding that the whole point of higher education is to add to the student's life experience. The QAA plans to issue draft guidance for consultation in autumn 2003.

Colleges & Universities, Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools, Product quality, Colleges and universities, Universities and colleges, Quality management, Educational aspects

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Students angry at force OU upgrade

Article Abstract:

The Open University has had to upgrade and restructure its ordinary degree courses (BSca and BAs without honours) following criticism from the Quality Assurance Agency that the courses did not contain enough higher level study. The move will directly affect 1,014 students who have already started their courses, forcing some to alter their study plans and meaning that some students will have already have completed lower level studies that will no longer be counted as part of their degree.

Organizational history, Management, Open University, Company restructuring/company reorganization, Reorganization and restructuring, Company organization

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Foundation degrees lack awarding body

Article Abstract:

Edexcel, exam board, may be unable to deliver its new flagship "suite" of almost 100 BTec foundation degrees as a result of quality assurance issues. The new suite of degrees was announced in February 2004 but in the three months since the launch Edexcel has not been able to sign up a single university to act as the degree-awarding body for the degrees, never mind the three universities that are required to validate a foundation degree.

Strategy & planning, Services introduction, New Products/Services, All Other Publishers, Book publishing, Educational Tests, Planning, Company service introduction, Service introduction, Examinations, Company business planning, Educational tests and measurements, Edexcel

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