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Abstract
The external examiner system in higher education in the United Kingdom has come under increasing scrutiny as growth of the sector has led to a demand for greater public accountability. The study examines the role of practitioners as external examiners in a new university that has a substantial proportion of professional courses. These examiners saw their role as maintaining standards and ensuring that students are able to make the link between theory and the demands of current practice. An apparent shift from moderator to course consultant had taken place in most cases. Unlike examiners on academic courses, the majority visit the course during the year and meet students as part of the examination process. In the context of the current debate on graduate standards and the changing nature of employment, it could be suggested that expanding the representation of practitioners in the external examining system would emphasise the role of higher education in the economy.
