New Enterprising Quality in Universities started at UWTSD

The UK’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) has recently announced that a suite of 14 Subject Benchmark Statements are the first to consider how educational practice within University subjects need to take account of wider social goals. Equality and Diversity, Sustainable Development and the requirements of the disabled are highlighted, as is the demand for subject-specific enterprise and entrepreneurship education.

The QAA’s website explains that “Subject Benchmark Statements 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.”

In 2007 – 2011 UWTSD led the work of the Higher Education Academy, and based on the interdisciplinary nature of his research, Professor Emeritus Andy Penaluna was commissioned by QAA to set up and chair the World’s first quality assurance guidance on how to learn to become more entrepreneurial when learning in Universities. The European Commission and the United Nations are amongst those who have openly borrowed from this work, and according to QAA’s former CEO who commissioned Andy to lead the development, he has had a significant impact. When the news broke on Twitter, Professor Andrew Henley, President of the Institute for Small Business and Management, had a single word to say, “wow!”

Andy told us that, “At the time most academics were not looking beyond their business or managements schools, as they were well placed to teach business practice. At the time I was learning about all the knowledge and skills that other disciplines could offer, for example, who better to persuade you than a Theatre and Drama student who could convince you that they were somebody else entirely?”

He went on to explain that, “We have now gone full circle, because the guidance we produced is now being used to inform University Subject specialists. Archaeology, and Greek and the Classics may not be obvious places to look, but they are very good at putting together good arguments when some facts simply cannot be discovered. Making decisions without all the evidence is what entrepreneurs do all the time, so we borrowed from their experience to make the links.”

The first 14 Subjects to embrace this team’s thinking are:

* Archaeology

* Chemistry

* Classics and Ancient History (including Byzantine Studies and Modern Greek)

* Computing

* Counselling and Psychotherapy

* Criminology

* Early Childhood Studies

* Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences and Environmental Studies

* Forensic Science

* Geography

* History

* Housing Studies

* Policing

* Theology and Religious Studies

Andy concluded that, “Our work at QAA was the first to consider the jigsaw puzzle of what different University departments can offer, and that set the scene for another QAA guidance on Education for Sustainable Development, which borrowed our approach. The two actually work in parallel with each other, because they both depend on being innovative and thinking about the future, and that’s what we need to think about as Universities.”

Note to Editor

QAA work with governments, agencies and institutions globally to benefit UK higher education and its international reputation. They are considered to be one of the world’s experts in University level quality assurance.

For the latest version of the QAA’s Guidance on Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Education, chaired by Professor Emeritus Andy Penaluna, please go to: https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/enterprise-and-entrepreneurship-education

For more info on QAA and its work see: https://www.qaa.ac.uk

For the formal announcement please go to: https://www.qaa.ac.uk/news-events/news/qaa-launches-first-suite-of-revised-subject-benchmark-statements#

Further Information

Rebecca Davies

Swyddog Gweithredol Cysylltiadau â’r Wasg a’r Cyfryngau

Executive Press and Media Relations Officer

Cyfathrebu Corfforaethol a Chysylltiadau Cyhoeddus

Corporate Communications and PR

Mobile: 07384 467071

Email: Rebecca.Davies@uwtsd.ac.uk