Enhancing Support for External Examining: Report and Action Plan

This report summarises the research and development work that was undertaken between January and July 2004 and the actions identified to enhance the support given to external examining. The research provides new insights into why people engage in external examining and into the nature of the professional actions underlying external examining. The key sustainability issues are: how to expand the pool of knowledgeable experienced and competent people willing to participate in external examining and how to mediate the obstacles and encourage greater participation. The key development issues are firstly how to persuade:

1. external examiners and people wishing to become external examiners that the actions proposed in this report will be of benefit to them and
2. institutions that the benefits outweigh the costs; and secondly how to make the conditions for external examining more favourable and the role more accessible and attractive as a vehicle for professional personal and institutional development.