QAA publishes new suite of Subject Benchmark Statements

QAA has published this year's set of Subject Benchmark Statements: revised editions of the Statements for Accounting, Finance, Philosophy, Music and Education Studies, as well as for Librarianship, Information, Knowledge, Records and Archives Management, and Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics, and a new Statement for Public Policy and Public Administration.

"Subject Benchmark Statements are curated by QAA as the UK-sector-led descriptors of taught disciplines," explains Andy Smith, Quality & Standards Manager at QAA. "They describe the nature of study and the academic standards expected of graduates in specific subject areas. They show what graduates might reasonably be expected to know, do and understand at the end of their studies, and are used as reference points in the design, delivery and review of academic programmes.

"We're hugely grateful for the work of all those who join the advisory groups and particularly the chairs and deputies who engage so enthusiastically and meticulously to produce statements that are so valued by their subject communities."

Durham University's Professor Stephen Mumford, who chaired the panel for the new edition of the Philosophy Statement, said: "I found it really rewarding. It was a really collaborative effort, working with a great team – and working with people from every nation of the UK. What I really loved was taking it as an opportunity to sell our subject and explain what our subject is. It was almost a philosophical exercise in itself, defining the nature and boundaries of philosophy. I think it's important that the world knows what it can expect of a philosophy graduate. We found it a great opportunity to talk about the skills that a philosophy graduate will have." 

Chair of the Finance panel, the University of Strathclyde's Professor Andrew Marshall told us: "We had a very credible panel of professors from a number of major universities in the UK. QAA were very helpful in organising our meetings too. I think we ended up with a very good statement. We ended up exactly where we wanted to. I think they're incredibly important. Subject Benchmark Statements are the foundation of what you should be teaching in your degrees. They're used by external examiners and by people reviewing and evaluating programmes. It was terribly important to get employers on our panel and I'd hope that employers will become more aware of Statements and will use them too. I'd also hope that prospective students would look at them to find out what studying a subject means."

The University of Birmingham's Professor Mike Gunn chaired the advisory group for Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics. He said: "I enjoyed it. It was a pleasure. It was interesting to work with quite a diverse team. Everything went smoothly. I think Subject Benchmark Statements are important for employers, students and their families. They give employers information about what skills a graduate will emerge with. They tell prospective students why a subject is worth studying – why it's engaging, interesting and important. And they show their families that they can get a job afterwards."

The University of Birmingham's Dr Karin Bottom, Chair of the Public Policy and Public Administration panel, said: "I found the process great. Our QAA quality manager guided us expertly while allowing us to have the agency that we wanted. He pointed us to things that we needed to think about and that we should reflect on in advance. A Subject Benchmark Statement sets the guidelines and boundaries of what a subject is and what needs to be taught, without being prescriptive. In subjects allied to professions, that's particularly important. It gives programmes credibility with organisations that may fund people who take these degrees and that may employ people who've taken these degrees. It gives employers and practitioner groups a reference point as to what those practitioners need to know."

The University of Hull's Professor Richard Woolley, who chaired the Education Studies panel, added: "It was one of the most positive, creative and uplifting experiences. I worked with a fantastic group of colleagues. The energy and creativity that came from them was huge. I said at the very beginning that I wanted us to be ambitious for our subject and I really feel we achieved that during the process. I think we've set an ambitious agenda for our subject. There are diverse views and all those are welcome and included in the statement. It isn't just a benchmark to be measured against – it's a benchmark that's something to aspire to."