England

This section aims to provide useful information for those teaching economics in higher education in England, giving a brief overview of the English educational system and its organisations, as well as Economics Network resources, which support English priorities in economics.

Resources and projects

The English educational system is largely the same as Wales and Ireland (to compare qualifications across the UK and Ireland see the QAA website; also see official documents and syllabuses for economics specific information ). 

The Economics Network has the following resources relevant to the main issues within economics teaching and learning in England (which tend to be very similar to those in the rest of the UK) and relevant to the priorities set out by The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE):

• Assessment and feedback
• Student engagement/motivation
• Enhancing learning through technology
• Employability
• Maths support
• Teaching economics to non-specialists 
• Internationalisation
• eLearning
• Education for Sustainable Development
• Research-teaching nexus
• Surveys including Student Surveys
• External examiners

The Fund for the Development of Teaching and Learning (FDTL), the Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) initiative and the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme are the main ways in which England differs from other areas of the UK. The Economics Network has worked closely with the four economics FDTL Phase 5 projects which have provided a range of resources:

• Beyond dissemination strategies: Embedding computer-based learning & effective uses of WinEcon & VLEs

• FEELE: Bringing Economic Experiments into the Classroom

• Mathematics for Economics: Enhancing Teaching and Learning (METAL)

• Developing First Year Undergraduates' Acquisition of Threshold Concepts in Economics

The Economics Network has identified which CETLs bear most relevance to teaching economics.

If you are interested in applying for the National Teaching Fellowship Award you can contact Guglielmo Volpe of Queen Mary, University of London, who was awarded the National Teaching Fellowship award for his economics teaching in 2004.

The Network has two websites for students: Why Study Economics? for prospective students and Study Economics which provides support to current students including study skill support, module choices, careers advice etc.

Academy – England

The Higher Education Academy supports the higher education sector in England through its UK-wide services, direct work with HEIs and close relations with English organisations and groups.

Other Organisations

Higher Education Funding Council England (HEFCE)

HEFCE provides an expert resource on all aspects of English higher education, promotes and supports higher education in England, represents the interests of its members, and negotiates on behalf of England higher education.

QAA England

QAA England works closely with higher education organisations in England to ensure universities and colleges maintain high levels of quality and academic standards.

National Union of Students

The NUS is a confederation of 600 students' unions, amounting to more than 95 per cent of all higher and further education unions in the UK.