Engaging the wider academic community in a postgraduate certificate in Academic Practice : the issue of standards

This paper critically reflects on the challenges associated with academic standards in a postgraduate certificate in academic practice, which involved the wider academic community of the institution. It is underpinned by a socio-cultural constructivist view that suggests standards do not exist independently of assessors, but are co-constructed by participation in communities of practice through the process of making assessment judgements. Following an outline of the programme design, the discussion focuses on the uncertainties around standards arising from the fragility and fragmentation of a nascent community of practice comprised of a multiplicity of personal standards frameworks and disciplinary perspectives.