Thousands of third-level students may for the first time be allowed to view their exam scripts, a conference at the weekend heard.
From October most third-level colleges will be covered by the Freedom of Information Act, and this should allow students to see the scripts, the annual conference of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) was told.
The conference also heard that other documents about students held by colleges would be accessible under the Act, introduced for other public bodies three years ago.
Some academics are unhappy with the idea of students having access to scripts, because it could increase the number seeking rechecks of their papers. It also imposes an extra burden on examiners to clearly mark papers and ensure figures are totalled properly.
However, the introduction three years ago of student access to scripts at Leaving Cert caused a drop in the number of pupils seeking a recheck.
In most universities, students can appeal their grades, but few have a formal mechanism for viewing scripts.
However, Mr Michael Creed, of UCC, said the university had moved - before colleges came under the Act - to give students access to scripts this summer. The students who applied in advance could see them under supervision on designated days. He said students could not view the exam scripts of others.
Mr Daltun O Ceallaigh, general secretary of IFUT, said the Act was likely to give all students similar access. Mr Paddy O'Flynn, a delegate and exams appeals officer in UCD, said academics needed to be "vigilant" about the Act.
It had implications not just for exam scripts but for other documents kept by academics on students. He could envisage several "test cases" coming before the Information Commissioner, Mr Kevin Murphy, over third-level issues.
With the exception of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies and the Royal Irish Academy, Mr O Ceallaigh said, all third-level colleges would be covered by the Act. IFUT wanted to see these two institutions included. Most of the IFUT conference concerned its submission to the new bench-marking body. Mr O Ceallaigh said he hoped to see increases at all levels from the process. There was some "tension" about the speed of the exercise, but IFUT was "trying to make the best of it" along with other groups.