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The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) has published a new edition of the Subject Benchmark Statement (SBS) for Geography – the document which defines the standards expected of geography graduates in the UK.
The Society welcomes the new document, which has been compiled by a specialist panel convened by the QAA, the independent body which sets and maintains standards across UK higher education, last year.
While much remains similar to the 2019 version of the SBS, there are significant additions on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), mental health and justice agendas, as well as sustainability and enterprise. New statements are also included on fieldwork, underpinned by the principles agreed by Heads of Departments across UK universities last year. The SBS positions geography as a dynamic subject which extends across the social sciences, arts, humanities and natural sciences.
Although following the SBS is not a regulated requirement for higher education providers in the UK, the document plays an important role in describing the nature of the subject, and forms much of the criteria for the Society’s undergraduate Programme Accreditation scheme. The new document will be adopted by the Society for accreditation applications from September 2022.
The new document is available to download from the QAA website.