Final Report of The Burgess Group
Wes Streeting, NUS VP Education said, “The current degree classification system is not fit for purpose, and we welcome this attempt to address its shortcomings. We agree with Burgess that more detailed information should be included in a degree transcript. The existing 4-point system, with its arbitrary cut-off points, does not adequately reflect a student’s achievements.
We are also pleased that the report recommends that the sector should look at the importance of non-formal learning, and how we can measure and record the scope of a student’s experience. Our members are involved in a wide range of activities in their students’ unions and local communities, from working in student media to fundraising and volunteering with local charities. This should be reflected in their overall qualification.
Having said this, we are disappointed that the pace and scale of the proposed reforms have been frustrated by some sections of the higher education sector who appear not to have grasped the necessity for change. We need a system that fully takes account of a student’s skills and ability and can be readily understood by institutions, graduates and employers alike. While the Burgess Report is a step in the right direction, it is imperative that its recommendations do not gather dust and are implemented speedily and consistently across the entire sector.”
Return to this campaign's homepage or view all articles in this campaign.