Essex appointment to the Quality Assurance Agency for HE Advisory Group

Daniela Carboni, Lecturer in the Department of Language and Linguistics, has been appointed to the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education’s Advisory Group for the review of the Languages, Cultures and Societies Benchmark Statement.

Subject Benchmark Statements describe the nature of study and the academic standards expected of graduates in their subject areas. It is very important that they should reflect what graduates are expected to know understand and do at the end of their studies.

Daniela Carboni said: “I am delighted to be appointed to the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education’s Advisory Group for the review of the Languages, Cultures and Societies Benchmark Statement and I am looking forward to working alongside colleagues from a wide range of HE institutions.

“I believe that the Statement for my subject should reflect changes in society and learning styles and genuinely address the needs of our students. I hope that the skills I have acquired in over 25 years of experience teaching in HE will bring inclusive teaching to the heart of curriculum design.”

QAA’s Director of Membership, Quality Enhancement and Standards, Dr Ailsa Crum, said: “The commitment and dedication of our experienced advisory groups helps to ensure that Subject Benchmark Statements continue to be valued by disciplinary communities. We are grateful to all of those who have volunteered their time to support this vital activity and look forward to working closely with them in the review of Subject Benchmark Statements this year.”

Daniela Carboni has lectured in Italian at Universities in the UK and in Amsterdam. As a teacher she is interested in critical reading skills, formative assessment, syllabus design and the use of story- telling and narrative techniques in the classroom. She promotes inclusivity and intercultural awareness in her teaching and is the Outreach Coordinator for modern languages at Essex.