Validation of professional degrees: the micropolitical climate and ethical dilemmas Available to Purchase

The system of validating degrees awarded by British universities is a process of peer review. This now applies to professional health‐care degrees which also confer eligibility for state registration. The context of these validations is the new environment of market‐led education, and the fate of valuable contracts may depend on the decision of the validation committee. Explores the micro‐politics of such validation events which involve representatives from professional organizations and university staff. The focus is on the power relationships within the validation committee and the influences on the final decision. The work is based on experiential and documentary evidence.