CONTENTS 1. Introduction 1.1 Course Outline 1 1.2 Introduction ...

4. Subject Benchmarks
Subject benchmark statements provide a means for the academic community to describe the
nature and characteristics of programmes in a specific subject. They also represent general
expectations about standards for the award of qualifications at a given level and articulate the
attributes and capabilities that those possessing such qualifications should be able to
demonstrate. The benchmark statements have been compiled by the Quality Assurance Agency
(QAA) to be used as a guide for academics in developing and teaching course programmes, to
define four key areas of knowledge and experience that should be acquired by a student
graduating in a particular discipline. These are:
• knowledge and understanding
• cognitive and intellectual abilities
• practical skills
• transferable skills
The benchmark statements are used to develop learning outcomes for each level of the course as
a measure for both students and external agencies of the quality of educational provision.
There are not specific benchmark statements for this discipline, therefore the statements used in
this programme have been taken from a number of different disciplines: Engineering, Optometry,
Communications (media, film and cultural studies), Mathematics, Computing, Chemistry,
Optometry and Art & Design. They can be read in full on the QAA website at www.QAA.ac.uk.
The full range of knowledge and skills defined in the learning outcomes can be mapped across
the three levels of the programme. The learning outcomes at each level have been divided up
into the four key areas defined in the benchmark statements to provide clear correlations. The
course has been designed to provide a progressive building on fundamental theory and practical
skills through core modules in each year. We are confident that the modules being offered will
provide students with the opportunity to meet and exceed threshold standards set out in the
benchmark statements.
5. Skills
The University’s Skills Policy comprises two elements: (i) HE (Key) and Career Management Skills
(HE & CM Skills), and (ii) Personal Development Planning (PDP).
5.1 Career Management Skills
Career Management Skills have been developed to equip students with the ability to define and
manage their own career development. By including them as a compulsory part of this degree
course, students are given the opportunity to reflect upon the decisions they make, in their
progression through the programme and how it will affect career aspirations and subsequent
opportunities. The Career Management Skills module has been tailored for this degree
programme to provide students with these essential skills, and includes areas such as decisionmaking,
effective use of information sources, career guidance, development of employability skills
and also contains a work placement component. Further details of the module content may be
found in the course syllabus section at the back of this handbook.
5.2 Key Skills
HE skills are a range of general skills, also known as key or transferable skills which are not
specific to a subject area, but will be useful to students in their lives and careers. These include
areas such as group working, numeracy, problem-solving and communication and are embedded
in modules at all levels of the course. These skills and their inclusion in individual modules are
defined in the skills charts on the next few pages.
DPI_Hbook 15 ©University of Westminster