Queen's University Belfast (QUB) faces scrutiny following an email sent to its Business School staff, which has raised concerns over potential grade inflation. The email suggested that lecturers take into account higher marks awarded at competing universities when grading their own students. Specifically, it highlighted that QUB's marks were "around seven percentage points less" than those at other Russell Group universities, with a significant disparity in the awarding of first-class degrees.
The email urged staff to "please bear this in mind" while marking and moderating modules, noting that only 14% of QUB's Business Management degrees received a top 1st grade compared to approximately 35% in similar programs at other Russell Group institutions. This disparity has led to questions about whether staff are being indirectly pressured to inflate grades.
An anonymous whistleblower has claimed that lecturers felt under pressure to increase marks for both undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications. The average mark for final-year modules in Business Management at QUB was reported to be "around 59," further fueling concerns about grade parity.
“We should be considering these distributions when marking,” stated the document.
In response to these allegations, a university spokesperson firmly denied any suggestion that staff were pressured to inflate grades. The spokesperson emphasized QUB's commitment to maintaining rigorous academic standards.
"As a leading university across the UK and Ireland, and member of the Russell Group, we – like other universities – apply a variety of metrics to continuously benchmark our students against a range of peer institutions in relation to student outcomes and the employability prospects of our graduates," stated the QUB spokesperson.
"Drawing on data from comparable universities and programmes is one aspect of this process – to reiterate, this is a standard practice and in no way exceptional," the spokesperson added.
The spokesperson highlighted QUB's stringent oversight mechanism involving multiple levels of internal and external scrutiny and quality checks of teaching, assessment, and marking processes. They noted that this data-driven approach underpins their quality assurance processes and aligns with practices within the UK and internationally.
"This data-driven approach underpins our quality assurance and enhancement processes and is completely consistent with practice within the UK and internationally."
QUB's Business School, one of the university's major departments with approximately 150 academic staff, plays a significant role in these academic discussions. The Russell Group has advised universities, including QUB, to consider adjustments if their grading does not meet expected standards. They suggested aiming for average marks of 62 in the first year, 64 in the second year, and 66 in the final year to align with other Russell Group management programs.
This issue arises amidst broader discussions about grade inflation in higher education. The Office for Students (OfS) in England previously warned universities about awarding too many top-degree grades. It suggested that institutions work with Heads of Department and the Undergraduate Director of Education to consider necessary adjustments.
Despite the controversy, QUB asserts its dedication to maintaining high academic standards and ensuring its students are well-prepared for future employment. They emphasize that benchmarking against peer institutions is standard practice, not an indication of undue pressure on staff.
