Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to let you know that a Careers Education Benchmark Statement has recently been published by AGCAS (the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services) on behalf of the UK Higher Education sector. This key document will be of particular interest to those of you who are involved in curriculum development or in educational development in the area of employability or career management skills. The Statement aims to serve as an external reference point for curriculum development and review using the QAA subject benchmarking concept and has been endorsed by a number of key sector organisations, including the HEA, CRA, AGR and SCOP.

The Benchmark Statement provides a valuable reference tool for academic staff engaged in the development of career learning and employability through specific modules, cross-curricular integration and outside the curriculum and in educational development staff in providing a focus for staff development in the area of employability. Both full and executive summary versions of the benchmark statement can be downloaded from the AGCAS website at www.agcas.org.uk/quality/careers_education_bs.htm or in bulk orders from Sally West at the AGCAS Office ([log in to unmask]) at postage costs. Please note that while requests for bulk orders of the Executive Summary can be accommodated, numbers of the full documents are more limited.

I hope you find the statement useful and please contact me with any questions or feedback in relation to the Benchmark.

Kind regards,

Helen Pownall