The future of degree classification and accreditation - Higher Education Achievement Reports latest and findings from the GPA pilot
with
Professor Sir Robert Burgess, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Leicester and Professor Philippa Levy, Deputy Chief Executive (Academic), Higher Education Academy
and
Matthew Andrews, Oxford Brookes University; Sara Fernandez, Student Hubs; Stephen Isherwood, Association of Graduate Recruiters; Laura Jackson, York St John Students' Union and NUS; Professor Vivien Jones, University of Leeds; Christina Kerr, Barclays; Dr Sandra Mienczakowski, University of Nottingham; Dr Kathleen Paul, Florida State University; Professor Nick Petford, University of Northampton and Professor John Thornes, University of Birmingham
Chaired by:
Baroness Garden of Frognal, former Government Spokesperson for Higher Education and Skills and Viscount Hanworth, Emeritus Professor of Econometrics and Computational Statistics, University of Leicester
Timing: Morning, Thursday, 23rd October 2014
Venue: Glaziers Hall, 9 Montague Close, London SE1 9DD
This event is CPD certified
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Dear Mr Andrew
I hope you won’t mind this final reminder about the above seminar, taking place in Central London on Thursday, 23rd October 2014. Please note there is a charge for most delegates, although concessionary and complimentary places are available (subject to terms and conditions - see below).
The focus:
The way forward for degree classification and accreditation.
Context:
Comes at a time when universities are increasingly considering alternative degree classification systems, such as:
· The Grade Point Average (GPA) system, recently piloted by the Higher Education Academy and due for implementation by some universities from September 2014; and
· Continued use and expanding the scope of Higher Education Achievement Reports (HEAR).
Key discussion points:
- The impact so far of the HEAR, and challenges for continuing and expanding its use across the sector;
- The potential for a GPA system, and lessons from the pilot; and
- Options for alternative degree classifications that could provide more detailed accounts of students’ achievements.
Speakers:
Keynotes: Professor Sir Robert Burgess, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Leicester and Professor Philippa Levy, Deputy Chief Executive (Academic), Higher Education Academy.
Further confirmed speakers: Matthew Andrews, Academic Registrar, Oxford Brookes University; Sara Fernandez, Executive Director, Student Hubs; Stephen Isherwood, Chief Executive, Association of Graduate Recruiters; Laura Jackson, President, York St John Students’ Union and Member, Higher Education Committee, NUS; Professor Vivien Jones, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Student Education), University of Leeds; Christina Kerr, Head of Campus Front Office Recruitment, Barclays; Dr Sandra Mienczakowski, Deputy Director (Academic Administration), University of Nottingham; Dr Kathleen Paul, Director, London Study Centre, Florida State University; Professor Nick Petford, Vice-Chancellor, University of Northampton and Professor John Thornes, Principal Climate Change Scientist, Public Health England and Emeritus Professor of Applied Meteorology, University of Birmingham.
Chairs: Baroness Garden of Frognal, former Government Spokesperson for Higher Education and Skills and Viscount Hanworth, Emeritus Professor of Econometrics and Computational Statistics, University of Leicester.
Additional senior participants are being approached.
Networking:
Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from both Houses of Parliament and officials from BIS and Department for Employment and Learning. Also due to attend are representatives from Abertay University; Accenture; Aston University; Bangor University; Barclays; Bath Spa University; Birmingham City University; Bournemouth University; Brunel University; Canterbury Christ Church University; Cardiff Metropolitan University; Cardiff University; Chartered Institute of Environmental Health; City University London; Clifford Chance; Crossfields Institute; De Montfort University; Graduate Solutions; HEFCE; Higher Education Academy; Hull College, East Riding of Yorkshire; Imperial College London; Institute of Physics; Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET); Keele University; Keystone Employment Group; King’s College London; Leeds Trinity University; Liverpool Hope University; Liverpool John Moores University; Loughborough University; Middlesex University; Norwich University of the Arts; Nottingham Trent University; Nottingham University; NUS; Oxford Brookes University; Plymouth University; QAA; Regent’s University London; Richmond, The American International University in London; Royal Society of Chemistry; Sheffield Students’ Union; SOAS, University of London; Society of Biology; Staffordshire University; Student Hubs; Swansea University; The Open University; UCS; UKCES; University College London; University of Bradford; University of Bristol; University of East Anglia; University of East London; University of Edinburgh; University of Essex; University of Exeter; University of Greenwich; University of Hertfordshire; University of Huddersfield; University of Leicester; University of Liverpool; University of London; University of Northampton; University of Nottingham; University of Portsmouth; University of Reading; University of Southampton; University of St Mark & St John; University of the West of Scotland; University of Ulster; University of Westminster; Work Group; Writtle College, Essex and York St John University.
Press passes have been reserved by representatives from The Daily Telegraph; The Guardian and The Independent.
Agenda:
See below my signature, or click here any time to download the latest version.
Organised impartially by the Westminster Higher Education Forum (find out more).
CPD certified (more details).
Booking arrangements
Online booking form.
Once submitted, this will be taken as a confirmed booking and will be subject to our terms and conditions below.
Please pay in advance by credit card on 01344 864796. If advance credit card payment is not possible, please let me know and we may be able to make other arrangements.
Options and charges:
- Places at The future of degree classification and accreditation - Higher Education Achievement Reports latest and findings from the GPA pilot (including refreshments and a complete PDF copy of the transcripts) are £210 plus VAT;
- Concessionary rate places (see conditions): £80 plus VAT. Please be sure to apply for this at the time of booking.
Can’t attend?
- Full transcript available approximately 10 days after the event for £95 plus VAT;
- Concessionary rate: £50 plus VAT.
If you find the charge for places a barrier to attending, please let me know as concessionary and complimentary places are made available in certain circumstances (but do be advised that this typically applies to individual service users or carers or the like who are not supported by or part of an organisation, full-time students, people between jobs or who are fully retired with no paid work, and representatives of small charities - not businesses, individuals funded by an organisation, or larger charities/not-for-profit companies). Please note terms and conditions below (including cancellation charges).
I hope that you will be able to take part in what promises to be a most useful morning.
Kind regards,
Jonny Roberts
Jonny Roberts
Associate Editor, Westminster Higher Education Forum
T: 01344 864796
F: 01344 420121
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FINANCIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS: The delegate fee includes copies of the presentations via PDF and refreshments. Cancellation policy is as follows: (1) cancellations 14 or more days before the event: £70+VAT cancellation fee per delegate; (2) cancellations less than 14 days before the event: no refunds. Cancellations must be notified in writing to the Westminster Higher Education Forum. No charge will be made for replacement delegates. Transfer of any confirmed booking between events is not possible. The organisers reserve the right to alter the programme and change the speakers without prior notice. The Westminster Higher Education Forum is unable to grant extended credit and therefore must request that full payment be made within 30 days from the date of invoice. Should payment not be received within 30 days from the date of invoice, the Westminster Higher Education Forum will apply an administration charge of £40+VAT, likewise for payments made to our account in error.
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A key output of the seminar will be a transcript of the proceedings, sent out around 10 working days after the event to all attendees and a wider group of Ministers and officials at BIS and other government departments and agencies affected by the issues; and Parliamentarians with a special interest in these areas. It will also be made available more widely. This document will include transcripts of all speeches and questions and answers sessions from the day, along with access to PowerPoint presentations, speakers’ biographies, an attendee list, an agenda, sponsor information, as well as any subsequent press coverage of the day and any articles or comment pieces submitted by delegates. It is made available subject to strict restrictions on public use, similar to those for Select Committee Uncorrected Evidence, and is intended to provide timely information for interested parties who are unable to attend on the day.
All delegates will receive complimentary PDF copies and are invited to contribute to the content.
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Westminster Higher Education Forum Keynote Seminar: The future of degree classification and accreditation -
Higher Education Achievement Reports latest and findings from the GPA pilot
Timing: Morning, Thursday, 23rd October 2014
Venue: Glaziers Hall, 9 Montague Close, London SE1 9DD
Draft agenda subject to change
| 8.30 - 9.00 | Registration and coffee |
| | |
| 9.00 - 9.05 | Chair’s opening remarks Viscount Hanworth, Emeritus Professor of Econometrics and Computational Statistics, University of Leicester |
| | |
| 9.05 - 9.30 | Higher Education Achievement Reports (HEAR) - impact so far and next steps Professor Sir Robert Burgess, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Leicester Questions and comments from the floor |
| | |
| 9.30 - 10.20 | Implementing HEAR: awareness, accreditation and engaging with employers To what extent has the HEA’s ‘HEAR Academy’ support scheme helped to address key organisational and financial issues of implementing the HEAR? How should the accreditation of extra-curricular activities that count towards students’ degrees be regulated; is there a need for a standardised list of activities that can be included in section 6:1 of the HEAR? How has the HEAR affected student demand for Year in Industry placements, overseas study, employability modules and other such course content? Is there any evidence that the HEAR has encouraged more students to take part in extra-curricular activities; what steps can universities, students’ unions and other groups take to raise awareness of the HEAR among students in order to boost participation in such activities? How can suppliers of accredited activities take advantage of the HEAR to attract more members and volunteers? What can be done to raise awareness of the HEAR amongst employers, particularly SMEs, and encourage them to utilise it as part of their recruitment process? Where graduate recruiters aren’t using the HEAR, what are the reasons and how could the HEAR be changed to reflect employers’ needs? How has the introduction of the HEAR affected appetite for wider reform of the classification system? Christina Kerr, Head of Campus Front Office Recruitment, Barclays Sara Fernandez, Executive Director, Student Hubs Dr Sandra Mienczakowski, Deputy Director (Academic Administration), University of Nottingham Professor Nick Petford, Vice-Chancellor, University of Northampton Senior speaker, students’ union Questions and comments from the floor |
| | |
| 10.20 - 10.25 | Chair’s closing remarks Viscount Hanworth, Emeritus Professor of Econometrics and Computational Statistics, University of Leicester |
| | |
| 10.25 - 10.50 | Coffee |
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| 10.50 - 10.55 | Chair’s opening remarks Baroness Garden of Frognal, former Government Spokesperson for Higher Education and Skills |
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| 10.55 - 11.25 | Degree classification - where to go next? Professor Philippa Levy, Deputy Chief Executive (Academic), Higher Education Academy Questions and comments from the floor |
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| 11.25 - 12.05 | Case studies from the Grade Point Average (GPA) pilot Matthew Andrews, Academic Registrar, Oxford Brookes University Professor Vivien Jones, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Student Education), University of Leeds Questions and comments from the floor |
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| 12.05 - 12.55 | The future of the degree classification system - GPA and other alternatives What lessons can be derived from the implementation of the HEAR for the introduction of a GPA or other alternative classification systems? Would widespread implementation of a GPA system enable the HEAR to be reduced in size, to focus more on extra-curricular activities rather than a modular breakdown of academic achievement? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the current degree honours system used in the UK; would the implementation of a GPA system address concerns about grade inflation? What are the key conclusions to be drawn from the HEA-led pilots of a GPA system; what challenges arose and how might these be addressed? Has a standard version of the GPA system emerged which could be rolled-out universally across the sector? Would universal adoption of a GPA system be appropriate for all universities courses? If an alternative classification were to be adopted, is GPA the best system to introduce; what other alternative systems exist that could be implemented? Stephen Isherwood, Chief Executive, Association of Graduate Recruiters Dr Kathleen Paul, Director, London Study Centre, Florida State University Professor John Thornes, Principal Climate Change Scientist, Public Health England and Emeritus Professor of Applied Meteorology, University of Birmingham Laura Jackson, President, York St John Students’ Union and Member, Higher Education Committee, NUS Questions and comments from the floor |
| | |
| 12.55 - 13.00 | Chair’s and Westminster Higher Education Forum closing remarks Baroness Garden of Frognal, former Government Spokesperson for Higher Education and Skills Jonny Roberts, Associate Editor, Westminster Higher Education Forum |
