The first quarter of the 21st century has seen seismic shifts in the politics, society and economy of the United Kingdom. As economics thinkers and graduates, Rethinking Economics is concerned that economics education remains out of step with these shifts. What is taught in university classrooms informs how society perceives and will tackle these challenges: from engaging in climate science to the reality of Britain’s colonial past.
This report assesses the extent to which university education in this country is equipping students for their future by looking at the education at twenty universities. It does this through analysis of module and course descriptions and with the support of students based at the universities under review.
The report covers:
- An analysis of twenty university economics programmes across England, Scotland and Wales
- Identification of good practice in the programmes reviewed
- A new set of principles on an economics education for the 21st century should abide by
- A series of recommendations to ensure that economics education is providing students with the skills and perspectives necessary to take on the challenges of the coming century.