Looking beyond the 2.1

Posted on February 22, 2008

After 3 years of work the report came back last year from the Burgess Group that the degree classification system would stay largely the same but with the addition of a HEAR – Higher Education Acheivement Record – to give a fuller view of each graduate and their time at University. This HEAR sounds to me like more paperwork for the academics, which being ordinary people, they will want to find ways to get it completed as fast as possible or find ways to avoid doing it directly themselves.

A great alternative idea I read about today (suggested by Prof Mantz Yorke) talks about ‘acheivement claims’ where essentailly the students do the work themselves making a claim for their degree classification by presenting why they feel they have satisfied the aims of their course. Thus putting the student in much more control of the process and getting them, very importantly, to reflect on what they have learned from all their time at University and it’s value. This skills of ‘reflection’ will stand them in great stead for their job hunting as they will be able to much more strongly articulate what they as an individual have to offer (that is different) rather than expecting a 2.1 to do all the talking for them. 

Sadly I fear like too many great ideas little will come of it but I know I will introduce this to our assessment of graduates and perhaps from little acorns…..