Validity of British universities examination process is questioned

British universities have well-established and complex quality control procedures and the system of external examining that involves the universities scrutinising other institutions assessments to ensure fairness to students is unique. The Quality Assurance Agency regularly audit these institutional processes and the outcomes are readily made available to the public. There is, however, another side to what appears like a flawless process as increasing evidence suggests that academic standards are not being maintained and grade inflation and cheating are becoming a common occurrence. These recent findings suggest that the external examining system is out of date and fails to be suitable as a means of protection.
Evidence that suggests the process is less than satisfactory is shown in the following example:
At an institute belonging to the Russell Group, pressure was put upon the internal examiners to increase the pass rate for a particular degree programme but only in a way that would avoid questioning from the external examiners. Examples such as this one have been part of a series of developments that have challenged the quality and standards, alongside the deterioration of the teaching infrastructure, increased class sizes and the fall in funding, amongst others.
Professor Geoffrey Alderman, a teacher of politics and contemporary history at the University of Buckingham and Professor Roger Brown, of Liverpool University, have addressed these issues with the Chairman of the House of Commons Select Committee on Innovation, Universities, Skills and Science.