A leaked e-mail shows how university staff are being urged to increase the number of top degree grades to keep pace with competing universities.
A leaked e-mail shows how university staff are being urged to increase the number of top degree grades to keep pace with competing universities.
The internal e-mail from Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) tells staff to "bear this in mind" when they do their student assessments.
The internal e-mail from Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) tells staff to "bear this in mind" when they do their student assessments.
The university told the BBC this in no way related to university policy.
The university told the BBC this in no way related to university policy.
Last week, the higher education exams watchdog warned that the university grading system was "rotten".
Last week, the higher education exams watchdog warned that the university grading system was "rotten".
We do not award as many Firsts and 2.1s as other comparable institutions so there is an understandable desire to increase the proportion of such awards E-mail to staff at Manchester Metropolitan University
We do not award as many Firsts and 2.1s as other comparable institutions so there is an understandable desire to increase the proportion of such awards E-mail to staff at Manchester Metropolitan University
The MMU e-mail, sent by the academic standards manager to maths and computing staff, calls for an increase in the number of first class and upper second degrees.
The MMU e-mail, sent to computing and mathematics staff by that department's academic standards manager, calls for an increase in the number of first class and upper second degrees.
The e-mail, sent several months ago and now obtained by the BBC News website, reveals how staff have to consider more than the quality of students' work - and the tension between rigorous academic standards and universities' external ambitions.
The e-mail, sent several months ago and now obtained by the BBC News website, reveals how staff have to consider more than the quality of students' work - and the tension between rigorous academic standards and universities' external ambitions.
Student satisfaction
Student satisfaction
"As a university we do not award as many Firsts and 2.1s as other comparable institutions so there is an understandable desire to increase the proportion of such awards," it says.
"As a university we do not award as many Firsts and 2.1s as other comparable institutions so there is an understandable desire to increase the proportion of such awards," it says.
"Please bear this in mind when setting your second and final year assessments, especially the latter."
"Please bear this in mind when setting your second and final year assessments, especially the latter."
The e-mail goes on: "We have never received any external examiner criticism that our 'standards' are too low so there should be quite a lot of leeway available to us all when assessments are set."
The e-mail goes on: "We have never received any external examiner criticism that our 'standards' are too low so there should be quite a lot of leeway available to us all when assessments are set."
The e-mail also includes a joke about boosting the student satisfaction rating. Earlier this year, staff at Kingston University were caught urging students to falsify their responses to improve the university's standing in league tables.
The e-mail also includes a joke about boosting the student satisfaction rating. Earlier this year, staff at Kingston University were caught urging students to falsify their responses to improve the university's standing in league tables.
It says: "Please do not complain when all the BSc (Hons) mathematics students gain first class awards next summer. Now that really would increase our student satisfaction!"
It says: "Please do not complain when all the BSc (Hons) mathematics students gain first class awards next summer. Now that really would increase our student satisfaction!"
Higher grades
Higher grades
The leaking of the e-mail provides further evidence of the concern among academics over the pressure to manipulate degree awards to improve the public image of universities and to make them more attractive to applicants.
The leaking of the e-mail provides further evidence of the concern among academics over the pressure to manipulate degree awards to improve the public image of universities and to make them more attractive to applicants.
The number of students achieving a first class degree at UK universities has more than doubled since the mid-1990s.
The number of students achieving a first class degree at UK universities has more than doubled since the mid-1990s.
Among last year's university leavers, 61% achieved a first class or upper second class degree.
Among last year's university leavers, 61% achieved a first class or upper second class degree.
Such is the level of concern that Phil Willis, chair of the House of Commons select committee on innovation, universities and skills, wants to examine the threat to higher education standards.
Such is the level of concern that Phil Willis, chair of the House of Commons select committee on innovation, universities and skills, wants to examine the threat to higher education standards.
Manchester Metropolitan University confirmed the e-mail was genuine.
Manchester Metropolitan University confirmed the e-mail was genuine.
A spokesman said: "This is an informal comment by a member of staff below the level of head of department to immediate colleagues.
A spokesman said: "This is an informal comment by a member of staff below the level of head of department to immediate colleagues.
"It is merely the interpretation of a single member of staff which reflects the increased awareness of comparable and publicly-available statistics, and in no way relates to university policy.
"It is merely the interpretation of a single member of staff which reflects the increased awareness of comparable and publicly-available statistics, and in no way relates to university policy.
"Decisions about degree classifications are made by boards of examiners in accordance with the university's assessment regulations, which specify how classifications are determined."
"Decisions about degree classifications are made by boards of examiners in accordance with the university's assessment regulations, which specify how classifications are determined."
Financial pressures
Financial pressures
This is the latest warning about university standards, following a whistleblower's account of postgraduate degrees being awarded to students who could barely speak English.
This is the latest warning about university standards, following a whistleblower's account of postgraduate degrees being awarded to students who could barely speak English.
This prompted thousands of academics and students to get in touch with the BBC with their own worries - including that financial pressures were leading universities to recruit and pass overseas students who did not reach the adequate academic standards.
This prompted thousands of academics and students to get in touch with the BBC with their own worries - including that financial pressures were leading universities to recruit and pass overseas students who did not reach the adequate academic standards.
The response from BBC News website readers also included e-mails showing how an external examiner had been persuaded to change her mind over criticisms of a degree course.
The response from BBC News website readers also included e-mails showing how an external examiner had been persuaded to change her mind over criticisms of a degree course.
Many have described the conflict of interest between universities' self-regulation on degree grades and their need to compete in league tables.
Many have described the conflict of interest between universities' self-regulation on degree grades and their need to compete in league tables.
The chief executive of the Quality Assurance Agency, Peter Williams, reflected some of these concerns about an over-dependence on overseas students.
The chief executive of the Quality Assurance Agency, Peter Williams, reflected some of these concerns about an over-dependence on overseas students.
He was also explicit in his criticism of the current system: "The way that degrees are classified is a rotten system. It just doesn't work any more."
He was also explicit in his criticism of the current system: "The way that degrees are classified is a rotten system. It just doesn't work any more."
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