Review of degree projects
Halmstad University regularly reviews degree projects with the support of external experts. The purpose is to ensure that the programmes maintain high quality, that attainment of the intended learning outcomes meets the requirements for the relevant degree, and that the results are actively used in the continued development of the programmes.
How the review is conducted
Each School is responsible for a review cycle specifying when degree projects within its programmes are to be reviewed. The review is conducted every three years.
An external expert is appointed for each review and assesses five randomly selected approved degree projects. The selection is normally based on projects from the most recent academic year and the preceding academic year, and, where necessary, also from three academic years back. In addition to the degree projects, the assessment is based on the course syllabus, grading criteria and other relevant documentation.
The external expert submits a review report containing an assessment of the standard of the degree projects and recommendations for the continued development of the quality of the programme.
How the review reports are used
The review reports are used at several levels within the University’s quality assurance work:
- Programme level: The program director and programme team analyse the report and take any necessary measures.
- School level: The report is communicated to relevant parties within the School, such as the Deputy Head of School responsible for education and the School Advisory Board.
- University level: The statements are used as supporting documentation in the Research and Education Board’s programme evaluations. They also help limit the amount of documentation that external experts need to review in the Board’s evaluations, as they do not need to read the degree projects themselves.
Through this model, the University ensures that degree projects are reviewed by external experts, while allowing programme evaluations to focus on how the programme uses results, feedback and measures in a structured way that contributes to quality enhancement.
