ENQUIRE 2024: 'Exploring the Future of Programme Delivery' took place over three panel sessions in April 2024.
QAA launched the newly reviewed Subject Benchmark Statements and explored their importance in maintaining high standards and enhancing the quality of education across various disciplines.
We heard from a diverse line up of speakers about the pivotal role these important reference points play in the academic community and learnt how current sector priorities, like generative AI and sustainability, are being integrated into our course offerings.
Discover the event summary and the recordings from the three panel sessions below.
ENQUIRE 2024: Event Summary
On 11 April, QAA hosted an online symposium focused on Enhancement and Quality for Educators (ENQUIRE). The event was designed to support the work of academic staff with responsibilities for the planning, delivery, and assessment of taught degree programmes.
Our speakers included:
- Professor Sarah Jones, Professor of Education Innovation, and Pro Vice-Chancellor for Academic Enhancement and Research at the University of Gloucestershire, discussed the block delivery of academic programmes
- Dr Olufemi Sallyanne Decker from the University of Greenwich talked about sharing modules across programmes
- Professor Elizabeth Cleaver, educational consultant, anticipated a bright future for higher education.
There was also a chance to hear from QAA's Lead Policy Officer (England), Helena Vine, who provided an update on where the sector stands with the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE).
In addition, Dr Andy Smith, QAA's Quality & Standards Manager, introduced QAA's latest suite of Subject Benchmark Statements, from Agriculture, Anthropology and Areas Studies, Communication and Creative Writing, Drama and Dance, through Landscape Architecture, Construction, Real Estate, Surveying, and Town and Country Planning, to Health Studies, Optometry, Osteopathy, and Veterinary Nursing.
You can find out more about our work on Subject Benchmark Statements on our website.
Serving the sector - the importance of SBS
Dr Andy Smith hosted a panel exploring the importance of servicing the sector and the importance of of Subject Benchmark Statements. The panellists were asked a series of striking questions regarding how their experience on developing SBS and the relevance for the subject discipline.
The panel comprised:
- Chair: Dr Andy Smith, QAA
- Professor Alasdair Blair, Deputy Chair, Public Policy and Public Administration SBS
- Professor Joan Ballantine, Chair, Accounting SBS
- Dr David McMenemy, Deputy Chair, Librarianship, Information, Knowledge, Records & Archives Management
- Professor Susan Smith, Deputy Chair, Finance SBS
- Dr Caroline Stockman, Deputy Chair, Education Studies
Integrating sustainability across disciplines
An opportunity to focus on how sustainability can be incorporated into courses to encourage broader thinking, ensuring students graduate with the essential knowledge and skills to address today's environmental and social challenges.
The panel comprised:
- Chair: Charlotte Bonner, EAUC
- Nico King, student reviewer, SOS-UK
- Dr Karin Bottom, Chair, Public Policy and Public Administration SBS
- Professor Mike Gunn, Chair, Physics, Astrophysics and Astronomy SBS
- Professor Anita Krishnan, Deputy Chair, Accounting SBS
The impact of Generative AI on subject disciplines
We hear from sector colleagues about the significance of integrating Generative AI practices into Subject Benchmark Statements, aiming to enhance its application across diverse academic disciplines.
The panel comprised:
- Chair: Dr Nick Watmough, QAA
- Professor Greg Stoner, Professor of Accounting, University of Glasgow
- Cinnomen McGuigan, QAA SSAC, The Open University
- Professor Stephen Mumford, Director of Research including Ethics /Impact officer, Durham University
- Professor Chris Collins, Head of the School of Language Literature, Music and Visual Culture, Aberdeen University