What Needs To Be Done: The External Examiner System and HE Performing Arts Subjects Meeting Report

The external examiner system in the UK has recently come under political and media scrutiny especially since the Select Committee into Higher Education raised concerns about the system in 2009. A number of agencies in higher education e.g. the QAA Universities UK Guild HE and the HEA undertook investigations into and reviews of the system.

This led to PALATINE brokering and organising a meeting between those leading the reviews on behalf of the QAA UUK and HEA and a group of experienced external examiners from across HE dance drama and music. The meeting took place on 1 July 2010 at the Birmingham Conservatoire. The report is derived from the compiled notes from that meeting taken by Ralph Brown Projects Officer PALATINE.