Recognition as a Professional Teacher in HE: The Higher Education Academy professional recognition scheme for Senior Fellowship

Helen BarefootLearning and Teaching Institute

h.barefoot@herts.ac.uk / 01707 289424

Workshop Outcomes

On completion of this workshop participants should have:

• considered the application process for Senior Fellowship of the HEA

• had the opportunity to begin to draft one’s own submission

UK Professional Standards Framework (UK PSF)

• The idea originally proposed in the White Paper The Future of Higher Education (2003). UUK, SCOP(now GuildHE) and the UK HE funding bodies invited the HEA to consult with the sector to develop such a framework

• Recently reviewed; idea to strengthen the framework, ensure it remains fit for purpose, and to develop appropriate enhancements

• Consultation November 2010 – January 2011• New PSF launched 2nd November 2011

HEA Professional Recognition Scheme

The scheme has been designed to support the implementation of the Professional Standards Framework

Four categories of professional recognition: 1. Associate of the Higher Education Academy (AHEA) 2. Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)3. Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)

criteria changed4. Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA) new

HEA Professional Recognition SchemeRecognition Scheme

Accredited Programme

Collaborative agreement

NFTS individual award

Associate x x

Fellow x x x

Senior Fellow x

Principal Fellow x

HEA’s Professional Recognition Scheme

Areas of activity – 600 words on each1. Design and plan learning activities and/or programmes of study2. Teach and/or supporting learning3. Assess and give feedback to learners4. Developing effective environments and approaches student

support and guidance5. Engage in continuing professional development in subjects /

disciplines and their pedagogy, incorporating research, scholarship and the evaluation of professional practice

HEA’s Professional Recognition Scheme

Core knowledge (knowledge and understanding of)1. The subject material2. Appropriate methods for teaching and learning in the subject

area and at the level of the academic programme3. How students learn, both generally and in the subject /

disciplinary area4. The use and value of appropriate learning technologies5. Methods for evaluating the effectiveness of teaching6. The implications of quality assurance and

enhancement for academic and professional practice with a particular focus on teaching

HEA’s Professional Recognition Scheme

Professional values1. Respect for individual learners and diverse learning

communities2. Promote participation in higher education and equality of

opportunity for learners3. Use evidence-informed approaches and the outcomes from

research, scholarship and continuing professional development

4. Acknowledge the wider context in which higher education operates recognising the implications for professional practice

Application

• 2 parts:1. Account of Professional Practice2. Supporting statements from two referees

• Reflective commentary on your education roles and experiences

• Two case studies outlining contributions you have made to learning and teaching in HE

Account of professional practice (APP)

Reflective commentary on your education roles and experiences

Focus on how your• Education• Training• Employment• Roles• Experience

Teacher/mentor/facilitator of learning/academic leader

Might include:• Career milestones• Areas of research/scholarly practice• Involvement in learning and teaching initiatives• Recognition and Reward• Collaboration• Staff development activity• Leadership/management roles

Reflective commentary on your education roles and experiences

Case studies

• Two particular contributions– Had a significant impact

on others in relation to L&T

– Demonstrate your sustained effectiveness in relation to L&T and that meet the criteria for SFHEA

Might include:• Developing quality

enhancement• Supporting other

colleagues• Sustained engagement

with educational and staff development

• Evaluation of practice

Case studies

Application process

http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/senior-fellow/applying-to-become-a-senior-fellow

1. Complete your APP and case studies using template2. obtain 2 referee statements3. Obtain Institutional approval4. Complete online application form and upload your APP + referee

statements5. Pay fee of £300

Information to aid applicationThings to consider when drafting your form• CV• Appraisal forms (Peer Observation forms + SFQ data)• List of responsibilities • Programme reviews/validations/curriculum development• CPD activities• Funding applications/awards • Professional and other organisations you are involved

with• Pedagogic research/evaluations• External examiner work

Key words in the process- reflective accounts

• Give reasons for your choice of activities and techniques and how they relate to developing the learners’ understanding of the subject. Please explain how you know that your work is effective and how you try and improve it. How do the core knowledge and values underpin your practice

• Be reflective and not just descriptive; What you did and why, what went well and what didn’t go well, how you know this, what have you done/or will do to improve the learning, what does your research or scholarship tell you about this, where do the K &V fit in with your story?

What are accreditors looking for:• significant experience of the areas of activity• your use of core knowledge and professional values• your awareness of pedagogical issues and your informed understanding

of pedagogy to explain and justify your examples of practice• your ability to choose, adapt and apply methods and approaches to

learning and teaching• creative ways you approach your teaching and support your students’

learning• where you have adopted different approaches or adapted according to

the different needs of particular student groups• the way you integrate scholarship, research, and professional activities

with teaching and supporting learning• your ability to demonstrate that evaluation and continuing professional

development inform your practice

Key reference points

• Higher Education Academyhttp://www.heacademy.ac.uk/fellow

• Professional Standards Frameworkhttp://www.heacademy.ac.uk/ourwork/universitiesandcolleges/accreditation/ukpsf

• Guidance on LTI Knowledge Exchangehttp://www.studynet1.herts.ac.uk/intranet/lti.nsf/Teaching+Documents?Openview&count=9999&restricttocategory=Professional%20Development%20and%20Events/Fellowship+of+the+HEA&refresh=true

• Once you have applied can you please let Helen Barefoot know (h.barefoot@herts.ac.uk)