In this episode, QAA brings together four Subject Benchmark Advisory Group Chairs to explore how the latest Benchmark Statements address Generative AI, ethics, inequality and professional practice across Art & Design, Social Policy, Sociology and Social Work. Hear practical insights on critical and responsible AI use, safeguarding independent thinking, and embedding sustainability, accessibility and real‑world skills to ensure graduates are prepared for an evolving academic and professional landscape.

In a special podcast released to mark the publication of this year's suite of revised Subject Benchmark Statements, QAA's Quality & Standards Manager Dr Andy Smith talked with two of our Advisory Group Chairs: the University of Westminster's Kate Cheyne, Chair of the Advisory Group for Architecture, and the University of Plymouth's Dr Péter Bokody, Chair of the Advisory Group for the History of Art, Architecture & Design Statement.

The podcast focuses on how recent changes in their subject areas are reflected in the new iterations of their Subject Benchmark Statements – and started by talking about the impact of Generative AI on their disciplines.

Find the full Subject Benchmark Statements and supporting resources on the our website: www.qaa.ac.uk/subject-benchmark-statements

How can sustainability stay central in higher education amid financial pressures?

In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Rehema White (University of St Andrews) and Charlotte Bonner (EAUC CEO) challenge the idea that sustainability is a luxury. Instead, they argue it is core to higher education’s mission—equipping graduates to navigate complexity and drive positive change.

We explore how sustainability intersects with priorities like quality education, decolonising curricula, and student wellbeing, offering a unifying framework rather than a competing agenda. The conversation also touches on compassionate education, eco-anxiety, and empowering students as change-makers.

Our guests share inspiring examples from UK institutions and reflect on the ongoing journey of embedding sustainability in meaningful, context-specific ways. They leave us with hopeful insights about the future of education and its role in shaping a more sustainable world.

Tune in for an essential conversation about higher education’s purpose in challenging times.

Resources and further reading:
Perspectives and Practices of Education for Sustainable Development, Edited By Rehema M. White, Simon Kemp, Elizabeth A. C. Price, James W. S. Longhurst (https://www.routledge.com/Perspectives-and-Practices-of-Education-for-Sustainable-Development-A-Critical-Guide-for-Higher-Education/White-Kemp-Price-Longhurst/p/book/9781032588018)

QAA's newly revised and updated 2025 Subject Benchmark Statements (https://www.qaa.ac.uk/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements#april-2025)

QAA and Advance HE's Education for Sustainable Development guidance (https://www.qaa.ac.uk/the-quality-code/education-for-sustainable-development)

QAA-funded Education for Sustainable Development Collaborative Enhancement Projects (https://www.qaa.ac.uk//en/membership/benefits-of-qaa-membership/collaborative-enhancement-projects/education-for-sustainable-development):

• ESD and Academic Quality
• Monitoring and evaluating education for sustainable development in Higher Education
• Developing Phenomenal Learning: A toolkit for implementing Phenomenon-Based Learning as part of a future-proofed SDG HE curriculum
• Students driving curriculum quality for sustainability - developing criteria and tools