The state of the art: development of the research degree in the UK: part 1

This is the first in a series of two articles which consider the evolution of the research degree from a historical and from a practice-based perspective, which will also consider the Leeds Metropolitan University context. This first paper charts the development of the research degree in the UK, while the second paper (to follow in a future issue of the ALT Journal) considers the implications of these developments, particularly their implications for supervisors, focusing on activities at our own University

Rigorous and relevant? The challenge of managing and assessing learning on a work placement

This paper is based upon the experiences of a group of employers and students on a work placement module. It forms part of the evaluation of an accredited module within a programme leading to the award of a pre-vocational competence-based degree at a post-1992 university. Although this particular course focuses on health and social care, the work placement element involves principles which are applicable to a wide range of programmes; evidence-based assessment through the use of a learning portfolio is a feature of this degree