The Motivations and Professional Development Needs of Aspiring and Serving External Examiners in the GEES Disciplines

Abstract

AbstractThis article explores the results of a small-scale survey of serving and aspiring UK external examiners for research (PhD) and courses in the GEES disciplines. The research aimed to provide information for input into a strategy for further supporting and developing the external examining system. The findings included that the most frequent motivations for becoming an external examiner were the opportunity to learn from other institutions, and a sense of academic duty. Ensuring standards and safeguarding students’ interests were perceived to be the most important aspects of the role of external examining. The informal nature of appointments and the lack of formal induction or training for the role were frequently perceived to be potential drawbacks of the current system. Two main recommendations arising from this research are, firstly, for the provision of opportunities to discuss current issues with other external examiners, and, secondly, the setting up of a database and communication channels to...