Programme Benchmarking
Scope and purposes
Programme Benchmark statement is an essential component of quality assurance. It describes the nature and characteristics of a study programme of a specific subject area.
It provides a set of reference points to show how key features of a programme, its intended learning outcomes and the standards that derive these outcomes relate to what is considered to be appropriate by the programme community. It is a policy device aimed at improving the capacity of pogramme communities to regulate their academic standards. It creates programme based information that can be used by teaching teams as a prompt for self critical reflection and further development. Programme Benchmark statements describe nature and extent of the programme, programme aims, expected programme knowledge and understanding, expected skills and attitudes of award holders, teaching and learning strategies, assessment strategies, strategies used to maintain standards and minimum standards for the award of the diploma in a subject area
Programme Benchmark statements provide framework for developing and specifying intended learning outcomes, minimum standards required for the award of the diploma in the subject area, reference points for making judgments on the appropriateness and academic standards during the review process, information regarding the academic standards expected from the diploma holders, information on the qualities developed in graduates, reference points for programme approval and guidance in international comparison and competitiveness of higher education awards and student achievements (for students, professional bodies, employers and others).
Programme Benchmark statements also state the importance of the field, different areas of study, any specific things such as the need for self education, need for practical training, experimental studies, group work, problem based learning, analytical ability etc. Programme Benchmark statements further indicate the scope of employment of qualification holders including their main employment sectors.
Programme benchmark statements
- Higher Diploma in Accountancy
- Higher Diploma in Business Finance
- Higher Diploma in Information Technology
- Higher Diploma in Management
- Higher Diploma in English
- Higher Diploma in Mechanical Engineering
- Higher Diploma in Civil Engineering
- Higher Diploma in Electrical Engineering
- Higher Diploma in Agriculture
- Higher Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management
- Higher Diploma in Food Technology
