Dr Chris Dows has been an External Examiner on a number of programmes at Blackpool and the Fylde College.  His knowledge, experience and expertise have contributed to the ongoing development of our provision across the years we have worked with him. As an External Examiner he is highly student focussed, visiting our institution on a regular basis to meet and talk with students and to provide guest lectures and seminars when asked.  Chris is also very supportive of the staff and always happy to offer advice and guidance.  The support at critical times of the academic year is exemplary, offering extensive constructive, critical yet support feedback in preparation for, and in the execution of, examination boards.  His reports are rigorous, very detailed and always prompt. On a personal level, Chris is one of the best External Examiners it has ever been my pleasure to work with and he will be missed when his link with our programme ends.

Rob Scott  Programme Leader , FD and BA English and Communications, Blackpool and The Fylde College 2017

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Dr Dows acted as Interim HE Manager between August and November 2016. In that time he worked very closely with the senior management team to realise their higher education strategy, liaising closely with faculty directors, curriculum leaders and lecturers over City of Sunderland College's three campuses. In addition to coordinating the portfolio of Foundation Degree and Higher National courses, he worked to further develop the strategic planning for HE and ensured the continuity of all quality systems, including the NSS and DLHE return. He maintained the working relationship with Sunderland's validating partners, and was also successful in writing a bid for HEFCE Catalyst Funding to further support HE development. Chris quickly became a key member of the curriculum management team and made a significant difference to our HE Provision in a relatively short period of time.  He was a very good interim manager appointment – I would engage Chris again.

​Nigel R Harrett, Deputy Principal & Deputy Chief Executive, Sunderland College 2016

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I worked with Dr Dows during 2013/2014 and found him to be the supreme professional. In Chris, you will find an academic who fully appreciates the challenges of both the FE and HE environment. As an experienced lecturer in both of these sectors, Chris understands the pressures of developing HE programmes from scratch. He will be able to help any general further education or sixth form college with the often complicated development process - from the analysis of labour market intelligence to final validation panels. Chris has worked successfully with a number of universities across the country and has current experience as an external examiner with leading institutions. As an experienced and highly qualified practitioner, Chris always ensures projects are managed to deadline and to budget.
Tim Rogers, Vice-Principal (curriculum and quality) King Edward VI College, Nuneaton 2015

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Chris Dows was External Examiner for a suite of innovative and popular short creative writing courses at the Open University from 2009-2012, and his blend of professionalism, rigour, and collegiality contributed a great deal to the success of the modules. His professionalism was evidenced by the overview of the learning and teaching of creative writing across the sector he brought both to discussions at Exam Boards and to his reports. His rigour was clearly shown by his attention to detail – something that the Director of Assessment appreciated, meaning that he often picked up on elements of Chris’s reports personally. And his collegiality was plain in the understanding that he displayed of the challenges endemic to the assessment process if it is being properly managed. Chris was supportive in his comments, and genuinely interested in the problems that arise as part of any assessment cycle, offering thoughtful advice as well as recommending action when he considered it necessary. He offered welcome continuity and consistency in his approach, and his reports were full, timely, and instrumental to the smooth and successful running of the Boards.
Dr Sara Haslam, Senior Lecturer - Department of English The Open University 2015

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I have had the privilege of working with Dr Chris Dows since 2008 and will now be utilising his consultancy skills to offer staff development at my current institution. Chris' expertise and knowledge is wide reaching and he is able to offer a valuable perspective into the often difficult environment of delivering College Based Higher Education. His experience in the development of new curricula is very comprehensive and he has worked with a varied number of partner universities over the years. He is able to offer advice and guidance not just on developing an HE curriculum offer, but also on the wider implications which accompany such an endeavour such as quality assurance, the implementation of appropriate policies and procedures, staff development and training and engaging in additionalities such as becoming an External Examiner. As a Senior Fellow of the HEA, Chris is also well placed to assist with staff applications and, where necessary training, to achieve successful alignment with the UKPSF.
Clare Hagerup, Director of Higher Education Wakefield College 2016

Dr Chris Dows is a highly committed and competent professional who approaches his work with passion and dedication. Chris always produces excellent quality outputs and as a result his customers have high rates of satisfaction and frequently commend his support, approach and reliability. Chris is an extremely competent higher education practitioner. His knowledge, skills and expertise of higher education, particularly in relation to the production of curriculum design, learning outcomes and assessment, along with a rigorous approach to the setting of academic standards is unquestionable. Chris has worked with a range of institutions inclusive of Universities and College based Higher Education settings for many years, his experience of higher education partnership working is extensive. Chris is also a valuable asset for any institution or senior leadership team wishing to expand their higher education provision and who may not have the initial staff skills and expertise to do so. His ability to coach, mentor and support others to succeed in the setting up and delivery of higher education is outstanding. I can confirm Chris is highly competent in the production of writing new degree programes, designing learning outcomes and assessment and leading others through successful validation events. Chris is a long standing External Examiner and competent chair of validation and exam boards. As a published author, Chris is also a valuable asset for those organisations wishing to achieve degree awarding powers and develop their staff in higher education research and scholar- ship. I have worked with Chris for many years and can recommend his consultancy services without hesitation. A seasoned education practitioner, I can confirm that in using these consultancy services, your organisation will receive a quality assured approach with timely and successful outcomes.
Ellen Thinnesen Deputy Principal Thameside College, Greater Manchester 2015