JGHE Symposium: Benchmark standards for higher education - Introducing thefirst benchmark standards for higher education geography

The UK's Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education has recently require d British geography to produce a national benchmark statement which sets ou t the key characteristics of degree-level programmes in geography and outli nes the standards which students are expected to achieve. This document wil l be of direct relevance to all UK geographers and no doubt of considerable interest also to those working in other countries. In addition to presenti ng in full the benchmark document, this collection of JGHE papers includes an introduction to the purpose of the benchmark and how it was prepared. Th ree personal critiques are also included from academic geographers working in Scotland, the USA and Australia.