I did a discourse analysis of the subject benchmark statements corresponding to the five subject areas which account for the largest percentage of UK first degree students in 2010-2011, according to Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA, 2012) data (see Table 1). I also investigated languages (the most popular humanities subject) to ensure that I sampled a range of disciplinary clusters (e.g. arts/humanities, social sciences, sciences) both pure and applied. Table 1. Popular HESA first degree subjects by Selected QAA honours benchmark statements HESA First Degree % of UK HE students Honours Degree QAA Subject Subject study first degrees in benchmark statement selected this subject in Business and 13.1% General Business administrative Management (2007) studies Biological sciences 9.9% Bioscience (2007) Social studies 9.5% Social Work (2008), Sociology (2008) Creative arts and 9.5% Art and Design (2008) design Subjects allied to 8.8% Health Studies (2008) medicine Languages 6.3% Languages and related studies (2007) Total of sample: 57.1% of first degree undergraduates Findings All of the subject benchmark statements emphasise cognitive/intellectual skills, with little attention to the development of personal virtues or values. However, when present, the richest expressions are embedded in the values of the particular discipline, rather than presented as I give three examples of “transferable skills.” virtues that underpin particular disciplines, while being absent from others. Empathy Empathy emerges most prominently in language studies. The authors (Languages and related students of languages will develop sensitivity studies, 2007) explain: “all to, and awareness of, the similarities and dissimilarities between other cultures and societies, and their they will have an appreciation of internal own. In particular… diversity and transcultural connectedness, and an attitude of curiosity and openness towards other cultures.” (p. 8) Cultural understanding is coupled with skills and qualities of (p. “mediating empathy” 10) and to articulate to others the contribution that the culture has made at “an ability
I did a discourse analysis of the subject benchmark statements corresponding to the five subject areas which account for the largest percentage of UK first degree students in 2010-2011, according to Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA, 2012) data (see Table 1). I also investigated languages (the most popular humanities subject) to ensure that I sampled a range of disciplinary clusters (e.g. arts/humanities, social sciences, sciences) both pure and applied. Table 1. Popular HESA first degree subjects by Selected QAA honours benchmark statements HESA First Degree Subject % of UK HE students study first degrees in this subject in Honours Degree QAA Subject benchmark statement selected Business and administrative studies 13.1% General Business Management (2007) Biological sciences 9.9% Bioscience (2007) Social studies 9.5% Social Work (2008), Sociology (2008) Creative arts and design 9.5% Art and Design (2008) Subjects allied to medicine 8.8% Health Studies (2008) Languages 6.3% Languages and related studies (2007) Total of sample: 57.1% of first degree undergraduates Findings All of the subject benchmark statements emphasise cognitive/intellectual skills, with little attention to the development of personal virtues or values. However, when present, the richest expressions are embedded in the values of the particular discipline, rather than presented as “transferable skills.” I give three examples of virtues that underpin particular disciplines, while being absent from others. Empathy Empathy emerges most prominently in language studies. The authors (Languages and related studies, 2007) explain: “all students of languages will develop sensitivity to, and awareness of, the similarities and dissimilarities between other cultures and societies, and their own. In particular… they will have an appreciation of internal diversity and transcultural connectedness, and an attitude of curiosity and openness towards other cultures.” (p. 8) Cultural understanding is coupled with “mediating skills and qualities of empathy” (p. 10) and “an ability to articulate to others the contribution that the culture has made at