Student Evaluation and Assessment Procedures must be explicitly stated in the Student Assessment Policies and Procedures of each university in accordance with Criterion 6, which states: “External moderation of students’ learning achievements by appropriately qualified personnel. Moderators are appointed in terms of clear criteria and procedures and conduct their responsibilities in terms of clear guidelines.”
In addition, Criterion 13 (CHE, 2004: 19-20) states:
“The programme has effective assessment practices which include internal (or external) assessment, as well as internal and external moderation.” Criterion 13 explicitly states that, in order for a programme to be accredited and offered by a university. The learning achievements of students on the exit level of a qualification are externally moderated by appropriately qualified people who have been appointed according to clear criteria and procedures and who conduct their responsibilities in terms of clear guidelines. External moderation includes the following:
(2) (a) Academics from South African as well as from (b) international universities are utilised as external examiners. Such external examiners and moderators must adhere to the minimum criteria for examiners as set by the CHE in its Criteria for Programme Accreditation. At least one external examiner must be utilised for the examination and moderation of dissertations and theses. Their expertise to serve as external examiners is in accordance with the criteria for programme accreditation.
(b) The actual external examiners change and evolve continuously, regardless of whether they are from South African or international institutions. The Department does not collect information on the institutions from which external examiners are drawn. Examiners are used in all exit level examinations in major fields of study in programmes at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Levels 7 to 10. This is a quality assurance requirement.
COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS:
EXT:
DIRECTOR – GENERAL
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QUESTION 164 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED
Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP
MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
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