The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7351 p635
28 May 2005

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Society investigates De Montfort University

Allegations of irregular assessment practices at De Montfort University school of pharmacy in Leicester are being investigated by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. The allegations were originally made in the Times Higher Education Supplement on 18 March.

This week the Society wrote to the university’s vice-chancellor outlining its concerns, which include:

· Some first-year MPharm(Hons) students were passed when they should not have been, calling into question their potential fitness to practise

· The school has failed to follow institutional guidelines on the use of external examiners

· The university has not engaged openly with the Society about this issue

When the allegations were made the Society’s education committee put the university on probation as an MPharm(Hons) provider pending full investigation of the matter and an early, full reaccreditation visit. If the issues are not resolved during, or in advance of, this reaccreditation visit scheduled for the academic year 2005–06, further action could include suspension or withdrawal of MPharm(Hons) accreditation.

A spokeswoman for De Montfort University told The Journal: “The university would like to be absolutely clear that any allegations regarding irregular assessment practices are completely unfounded and completely rejects the suggestion that any student in pharmacy has progressed who should not have.

“The university maintains the highest academic standards and these have in no way been compromised, as was evidenced by the recent routine QAA institutional audit of the department which confirmed the robustness of the course.”