Blair, A., Craig, J., Gann, R. et al. (1 more author) (2025) Shaping the Discipline: The Impact of QAA Benchmark Statements on Politics and International Relations. European Political Science (EPS). ISSN 1680-4333
Abstract
The question ‘What is Politics and International Relations?’ often goes unasked, potentially leading to varied interpretations across universities. The review of the Quality Assurance Agency’s (QAA) Subject Benchmark Statement for Politics and International Relations in early 2022 provided a key moment to define the discipline. For over three decades, benchmark statements have been crucial in the UK higher education, guiding learning assurance and disciplinary self-definition. Despite their significance, the development process and impact of these benchmarks at a disciplinary level are underexplored. This article explores the history, development and influence of benchmark statements on Politics and International Relations, illustrating how they balance commonalities and differences across the UK institutions. It addresses concerns about the potential restrictiveness of these benchmarks and emphasises their voluntary nature. Through insights from four members of the Subject Benchmark Statement advisory group, the article aims to provide a thorough understanding of how benchmark statements shape and reflect the evolving landscape of the teaching of Politics and International Relations.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | This is an author produced version of an article published in European Political Science, made available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Keywords: | Politics, International relations, Subject benchmark statement, Disciplinary standards, Quality assurance agency |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Education, Social Sciences and Law (Leeds) > School of Politics & International Studies (POLIS) (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 22 Oct 2024 11:02 |
Last Modified: | 25 Apr 2025 09:52 |
Published Version: | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/s41304-0... |
Status: | Published online |
Publisher: | Palgrave Macmillan |
Identification Number: | 10.1057/s41304-025-00525-9 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:218689 |