Revealed: Durham modules ranked by student attainment in 2021-2022 - Palatinate

Revealed: Durham modules ranked by student attainment in 2021-2022 - Palatinate

The article demonstrates the practical value of Freedom of Information requests in uncovering granular academic performance data, revealing significant disparities in student attainment across various university modules and disciplines. By analyzing average marks and first-class grade percentages, the findings highlight how different subjects and year levels experience varying degrees of academic success, with physics and English leading in high attainment while foundation years lag significantly behind. These insights are crucial for open data advocates as they showcase how transparent, raw educational data can expose systemic trends and inequalities within higher education institutions. The ability to compare performance across specific modules, such as the stark contrast between successful first-year business analytics and those receiving no top grades in art or language studies, illustrates the power of data transparency to inform stakeholders about educational quality and resource allocation. Ultimately, this case underscores the importance of making university assessment data publicly accessible, allowing for informed debate on teaching standards and student support systems. It reinforces the argument that open data initiatives are essential tools for holding educational institutions accountable, enabling researchers, students, and policymakers to identify underperforming areas and drive meaningful improvements in academic outcomes and equity.

Source: palatinate.org.uk
Published on 2025-07-20