Dear Colleague
I am writing to provide your institution/organisation with an opportunity to comment on revised versions of 11 subject benchmark statements and one new subject benchmark statement, which have been prepared by representatives of the academic subject community for each discipline. The draft subject benchmark statements are available on the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) website prior to possible modification before publication. We should be grateful if you would circulate this letter to the heads of relevant academic schools/departments and those responsible for academic standards in your organisation so that they can respond as appropriate.
This circular letter also announces the publication of the revised subject benchmark statement for social policy and administration (previously 'Social policy and administration and social work').
In the first instance, to coincide with receipt of this letter, draft versions of eight revised subject benchmark statements and the draft new subject benchmark statement for early childhood studies are available on QAA’s website at www.qaa.ac.uk/news/consultation. Draft revised statements for mathematics, statistics and operational research; librarianship and information management; and optometry will be available on the website over the next two weeks, together with the publication of the revised subject benchmark statement for social policy and administration.
Subject benchmark statements provide a means for the UK’s academic community to describe the nature of study, and the academic standards expected of graduates, in specific subject areas and in respect of particular qualifications. They provide a picture of what a graduate in a particular discipline might reasonably be expected to know, do and understand at the end of their programme of study.
The second set of subject benchmark statements, published in 2002, has recently been revised in line with an original commitment by QAA to review them every five years. Each subject benchmark statement has been reviewed and revised by a group of subject specialists drawn from, and acting on behalf of, the relevant academic subject community, in consultation with a wider group representing the subject’s broader interests. Revisions have tended to reflect current developments, including industry changes and the existence of occupational standards; changes to, or the introduction of, PSRB requirements; changes to subject curricula, including contemporary issues such as sustainability and ethics; and European perspectives on standards.
Subject benchmark statements are intended to act as reference points for those involved in the design, delivery and review of academic programmes. They are not intended to represent a national curriculum in a subject or to prescribe set approaches to teaching, learning or assessment. Instead, they allow for both flexibility and innovation in programme design within a conceptual framework agreed by the subject community itself. For some disciplines, there may be additional reference points that institutions may need to consider, such as the requirements set out by PSRBs.
The new subject benchmark statement in early childhood studies has been developed in accordance with the criteria set out in the Recognition scheme for subject benchmark statements (2004). These criteria are intended to ensure that any proposal to develop a new statement represents the views of the subject community as a whole and that the subject area itself is sufficiently well-established and distinct from other subject areas for which a statement may already exist.
In accordance with QAA's usual practice, we wish to ensure that all HE providers and other relevant organisations have an opportunity to view and, if they wish, comment on the draft subject benchmark statements, both new and revised. Any feedback received will be forwarded on to the working parties responsible for developing or revising the subject benchmark statements, for them to consider. Final subject benchmark statements, once agreed, will be published on QAA’s website.
We should be grateful if responses could be with QAA no later than Friday 7 September 2007. A pro forma for use when commenting on one or more of the draft revised subject benchmark statements can be found on the website, together with a separate pro forma for use when commenting on the draft new subject benchmark statement.
Please email your responses to the Benchmarking Administrator at benchmarking@qaa.ac.uk or via post to the Benchmark Administrator, QAA, Southgate House, Southgate Street, Gloucester GL1 1UB. In the case of a more detailed enquiry relating to any of the subject benchmark statements or the process followed in their development, please contact Laura Bellingham (01452 557015).
Thank you in advance for taking the time to comment on the new and revised subject benchmark statements.
Yours sincerely
Peter Williams
Chief Executive
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