This issue contains articles on:

Graduate Standards
Ivan Moore (University of Ulster) summarises the findings of the HEQC draft report on Graduate Standards.

Peer Assessment in Music
Tim Ewers and Michael Searby (Kingston University) discover that requiring students to assess each other’s work helps them to get actively involved in the learning process.

An Exercise in Student Self-Assessment
Ken Hahlo (Bolton Institute of Higher Education) finds that everyone can benefit when students are required to assess their own work.

Peer Observation of Teaching
Paul Orsmond (Staffordshire University) reports that observing and being observed by one’s colleagues can make everyone happy, not just the teaching quality assessors.

Suspense and Surprise in Large Lectures
More on the Art of Inspiring Students
Helen Pennington (Massey University, New Zealand) shows how she helps her students to experience the process of scientific discovery.

The Costs of Crowded Classrooms
Dilupa Perera and James Hartley (Keele University) assess the effects of learning in a crowded situation. Yes, it does make a difference.

Professional Scholars and Scholarly Professionals
Michael Gregory (University College Suffolk) gives practical advice to prospective candidates for the Doctorate of Education.