These appointments are in response to changes in policy related to the end-point assessment for PSRB programmes, which allows providers to conduct their end-point assessments as part of the assessment board process. There must be independence of the end-point assessment which is assured through the assessment board and includes you as the external examiner for this phase.
Before the assessment board, the University will securely provide all the relevant documentation, checklists, and evidence to you for review. As the external examiner for the end-point assessment phase, you are part of the assessment board which has overall responsibility for the final decision on the award of the qualification and confirms that the apprentice has met the education outcomes required for registration with the NMC.
The duration of an external examiner’s appointment will normally be for four years, with an exceptional extension of one year to ensure continuity. An Institutional induction for newly appointed
External Examiners is offered on an annual basis, and newly appointed External Examiners who have not held an External Examiner position at another institution within the last 5 years will be assigned a mentor for the first year of appointment. You do not need to have been an external examiner before.
You will be a suitably qualified and NMC-registered nurse. You will be required to provide evidence of occupational expertise on appointment, in accordance with the university policy. All NMC registrants are required to revalidate their registration every three years and external examiners will be expected to evidence that they have been revalidated during their tenure and that their professional practice is up to date.
Your roles and responsibilities would include:
- To review and moderate evidence for the EPA;
- To report on the independence and impartiality of the process;
- To report on the maintenance of nationally comparable standards across HE institutions, acting as independent and impartial advisors to the University, and provide informed comment on the standards set and student achievement in relation to those standards;
- To attend Assessment Boards associated with the listed programme(s) and compile an annual report according to University of Derby Regulations;
- To advise on proposed amendments to the programmes or process, and on curriculum development and design to ensure currency, relevance, and coherence of curricular material and processes.
External examiners at the University of Derby:
- Have knowledge and understanding of UK sector agreed reference points for the maintenance of academic standards and assurance and enhancement of quality;
- Have competence and experience in the fields covered by the programme of study, or parts thereof;
- Have relevant academic and/or professional qualifications to at least the level of the qualification being externally examined, and/or extensive practitioner experience where appropriate;
- Have sufficient standing, credibility and breadth of experience within the discipline to be able to command the respect of academic peers and, where appropriate, professional peers;
- Be familiar with the standard to be expected of students to achieve the award that is to be assessed.
- Meet applicable criteria set by professional, statutory or regulatory bodies;
- Have awareness of current developments in the design and delivery of relevant curricula;