A quarterly publication of AQU Catalunya

92

January 2019

The establishment of the "Framework for the ex-ante accreditation, monitoring, modification and ex-post accreditation of recognised degrees" (or VSMA framework) in 2010 allowed AQU Catalunya to coherently link together the four quality assurance procedures that, pursuant to legislation, are compulsory for all recognised degree courses, the aim being to establish a more closely aligned conceptual coherence between the different internal and external QA procedures and to enhance their efficacy. In the case of ex-ante accreditation (also referred to as programme validation), analysis of the suitability of the educational objectives (learning outcomes) for newly-introduced programmes has always been carried out with the assistance of experts and in accordance with both European guidelines (ESG) and the legal regulations, whereas the use of cross-discipline benchmarks, with the exception of certain courses with pre-defined guidelines, has been insufficiently formalised.

In order for progress to be made and this situation remedied, the VSMA framework was revised and various adaptations made in 2016, including the introduction of the use of cluster benchmarking for programmes to facilitate the design and quality assurance of new courses. The purpose of these benchmarks is to give programmes greater coherence and identity through the definition of what can be expected of a graduate in the subject, in terms of what they might know, do and understand on completing their studies. This provides higher education institutions with proposals for the introduction of new programmes with an instrument to undertake the ex-ante accreditation procedures autonomously and in line with standard procedures currently used across Europe.

The benchmarks are set out, according to fields of knowledge, in documents known as subject benchmark statements, such as the ones presented here, namely, the Subject Benchmark Statement on first degree (undergraduate) programmes in Economics, and the Subject Benchmark Statement on first degree (undergraduate) programmes in Business and Management. These are in addition to the two existing Subject Benchmark Statements for programmes in Tourism and Computing.

A subject benchmark statement identifies the degree courses that it covers, together with specific learning outcomes to be delivered and acquired by students taking the programmes of study. Its purpose therefore is to serve as reference for the design, introduction, delivery and revision of the academic programmes covered by the subject benchmark statement. The target audience of subject benchmark statements includes:

• Academics involved in the design, delivery and review of programmes of study in Economics, Business and Management or related subjects.
• Prospective students thinking about studying Economics or a degree in Business and Management, or a current student of the subject, to find out what may be involved.
• Employers, to find out about the knowledge and skills generally expected of a graduate in Economics or with a degree in Business and Management.

Subject benchmark statements are not intended to represent a set curriculum in a subject or to prescribe set approaches to teaching, learning or assessment. Instead, they allow for flexibility and innovation in programme design within a framework agreed by the subject community.

Subject Benchmark Statement for Economics

Scope

The Subject Benchmark Statement includes the proposal by AQU Catalunya for self-validation (autonomous ex-ante accreditation) for subjects in Economics and defines what can be expected of a graduate in the subject, in terms of what they might know, do and understand on completing their studies. It refers mainly to first (undergraduate) degrees in Economics and related subjects and also provides preliminary information on learning outcomes associated with Master's programmes.

Content and structure

The content of the Subject Benchmark Statement for Economics is as follows:

• The role of economics and degrees in Economics.
• Objectives of first (undergraduate) degree programmes in Economics.
• The skills and competences required of graduates in the discipline.
• Curricular content, which sets out the theoretical foundations and conceptual framework, together with the necessary instruments for their development and comprehension, as well as the different applications/subject areas that courses of study should focus on in greater depth.
• Student profile and employability, which describes the key entry-level requirements and key factors in the success of graduates.
• Teaching, learning and assessment, which sets out the key aspects to be taken into account in the learning process in order for satisfactory results and outcomes to be achieved.
• Benchmark standards for first (undergraduate) and master's programmes, with the different levels of skills and competences to be acquired at each level.
• Self-benchmarking and the checklist of questions, which provide general guidelines for establishing the learning outcomes associated with programmes. The checklist of questions is for establishing whether the course of studies is aligned with the standards of quality given in the subject benchmark statement.

Experts Committee

Membership of the panel of experts for the Subject Benchmark Statement for Economics:

• Jordi Suriñach (University of Barcelona, UB), chair
• Oriol Amat (Pompeu Fabra University, UPF)
• Antonio Cabrales (University College, London, UCL)
• María José Gutiérrez (University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU)
• Guillem López-Casasnovas (Pompeu Fabra University, UPF)
• José M. Mella (Autonomous University of Madrid, UAM)
• Ferran Sancho (Autonomous University of Barcelona, UAB)
• Juan Tugores (University of Barcelona, UB)
• Carme Edo (AQU Catalunya), Secretary

Subject Benchmark Statement for Business and Management

Scope

There are various different degree programmes dealing with Business Management and Administration in the university system in Catalonia, as is also the case in the rest of Spain. The programmes most widely run are undergraduate degrees in Business Management and Administration, Accountancy and Finance, and Marketing. Undergraduate programmes have also recently been introduced in International Business Management.

The Subject Benchmark Statement includes the proposal by AQU Catalunya for self-validation (autonomous ex-ante accreditation) for these four programmes, in addition to guidelines for the Master's in Business Administration (MBA). The inclusion of four first (undergraduate) degrees and one master's degree means that special attention needs to be paid to both the distinction and relationship between them: on the one hand, between the undergraduate degree in Business Management and Administration, which is more general, and the other three undergraduate degrees, which are more specialised; and on the other hand, between the undergraduate degrees and the MBA, and their content.

Content and structure

The content of the Subject Benchmark Statement for programmes in Business and Management is as follows:

• Nature and scope of degree programmes in Business and Management
• The qualifications framework, which sets out the knowledge, skills and competences required of graduates in the discipline. Specifications for each degree programme are given in the annex to the document.
• Student profile and employability, which describes the key entry-level requirements and key factors in the success of graduates.
• Teaching, learning and assessment, which sets out the key aspects to be taken into account in the learning process in order for satisfactory results and outcomes to be achieved.
• Benchmark standards for first (undergraduate) degrees and master's programmes, with the different levels of skills and competences to be acquired at each level
• The checklist of questions for self-benchmarking, for establishing whether the course of studies is aligned with the standards of quality given in the Subject Benchmark Statement.

Experts Committee

Membership of the panel of experts for the Subject Benchmark Statement for Business and Management:

• Jordi Suriñach (University of Barcelona, UB), chair
• Isabel Álvarez (Complutense University of Madrid, UCM)
• Luis-Ángel Guerras (King Juan Carlos University, URJC)
• Jaume Hugas (ESADE, URL)
• Carlos Larrinaga (University of Burgos, UBU)
• Jorge Lengler (Durham University)
• Félix J. López (University of Valladolid, UVA)
• Ángel Ortiz (Polytechnic University of Valencia, UPV)
• Andreu Sansó (University of the Balearic Islands, UIB)
• Ramon Valle (Pablo de Olavide University, UPO)
• Albert Basart (AQU Catalunya), Secretary.

The Qualifications Framework for Higher Education in Catalonia

The Subject Benchmark Statement for Business and Management is a pilot initiative drawn up in accordance with the "Qualifications Framework for Higher Education in Catalonia", a document that was approved at the same time as the Subject Benchmark Statements.

This Qualifications Framework organises learning outcomes according to knowledge, skills and competences, which clearly clear associated with professional practice, i.e. the student's ability to learn on the job and to autonomously carry out tasks and take on responsibilities. This implies an important change in the current approach to both generic and specific skills and competences when defining courses of study. Annex 3 of the Subject Benchmark Statement gives tables with descriptors for the knowledge, skills and competences laid down in the qualifications framework for levels 2 (first/undergraduate programmes of 240 ECTS) and 3 (master's programmes).