International Perspectives on Peer Review as Quality Enhancement

Abstract

Peer review of teaching at higher education institutions can mean many things to different individuals, faculties, universities and governments. In this chapter we cover a broad canvas, drawing upon the expertise of international academics as well as the results of studies at several different universities around the world. The result is an incisive analysis of a range of issues relating to peer review. We begin by exploring the wide varieties of peer review mechanisms and then focus on the central aspect of any peer review method: how to establish trust between the participants. Next we examine the tension between peer reviews for evaluative versus formative purposes, and provide a case study on how that gap can be closed. We follow this with some practical advice on the role of educational developers in helping set up successful peer review programs, and suggestions for areas of training for participants. We close with a proposal that peer review be seen as an important subject for inquiry-based scholarship.