The external examiner is a “part of the decision-making process of the university” (QAA, 2013) and provides “an overall judgement on student performance and the quality and standard of the programme” (Higher Education Academy, 2012). The examiner’s report is “an important element of QAA institutional review” and there is “an increased importance attached to the views of external examiners … [and] reference to external examiner findings and views will become one of the key areas for institutional review and have a strong impact on the judgement of the review”. This external examiner directly enhances and impacts institutional quality standards and is “an integral and essential part of institutional quality assurance” (QAA, 2011).

The role of external examining is an essential, integral and core part of my activity as an educator. Over the years I have undertaken numerous external examining roles from a key examiner (typically a four year period), institutional reviews and validation/approval panels/events. The following is a list of external examining undertakings achieved so far.

External Examiner:

  • Leeds Beckett University (May 2012 – June 2016). Networks, Security and Forensics programmes.
  • University of Sunderland (BSc Computer Forensics), (May 2013-June 2017)
  • Glyndwr University (March 2011-June 2014) Networks, Security and Forensics programmes
  • Birmingham City University (2007-2011): BSc Computer Networks for Business, BSc Software Design and Networks, BSc Information and Communication Technology, BSc Computer Networks, BSc Computer Networks & Security, BEng Telecommunications and Networks.

External Curriculum Adviser

  • Bharathiyar University, Coimbatore, India. November 2013 – today
  • Hindustan University, Chennai, India. November 2013 to today)
  • Kamaraj College of Engineering and Technology, Virudhunagar, India. July 2014 – today)
  • IIT Madras. Consultation on development of National Hackathon competition. (November 2014-March 2015)

Validation/Review Panels

  • External Panel member: University of Gloucestershire. Validation of FdSc Cyber Security (28th July, 2015)
  • External Panel Member: University of Coventry, MBA in Cyber Security, September 2014
  • External Assessor: Middlesex University (School of Science and Technology). Validation of MSc Electronic Security and Digital Forensics (UK and Hong Kong), (March 2015)
  • External Subject Specialist: University of Central Lancashire, (April 2014), Validation of MSc Cyber Crime Investigation
  • External Subject Specialist: Demontford University, (June 2013), Validation of MSc Cyber Security for Delloitte
  • External Subject Specialist: Edge Hill University, (February 2010). Validation of MSc Information Security and IT Management.
  • External Advisor: University of Central Lancashire (June 2009), validation of Certificate in Forensic Computing (by distance learning)

Institutional Reviews

  • University of Coventry, External expert for Coventry University for their review of their five Indian campuses, (September 2014)
  • Middlesex University (in Dubai) (April 2008). Review of the Dubai Campus