The Higher Education Academy in Scotland

Alastair RobertsonSenior Adviser, Scotland

Presentation at Uni of Dundee, 12 March 2007

Topics to be covered

• The Academy- background• UK-wide aspects of the Academy’s work• Scottish-specific aspects of the Academy’s work• Dundee and the Academy- links and opportunities• Questions and discussion

Introduction

• Founded in May 2004, we are an independent organisation funded by grants from the four UK funding bodies, subscriptions from higher education institutions, and grant and contract income for specific initiatives.

• We engage in a wide variety of activities to support our mission and deliver our strategic aims and objectives.

Strategic aims and objectives

1. To be an authoritative and independent voice on policies that influence student learning experiences

2. To support institutions in their strategies for improving the student learning experience

3. To lead, support and inform the professional development and recognition of staff in higher education

4. To promote good practice in all aspects of support for the student learning experience

5. To lead the development of research and evaluation to improve the quality of the student learning experience

6. To be a responsive, efficient and accountable organisation

=> Triple Focus!

UK-wide activities

• Subject Network• Practitioner networks• Consultancy and

advisory services• CPD Framework• Registration &

Accreditation

• Information and resources

• Research and development projects

• Publications• Web-based resources• Conferences & events• Working groups

Professional Development & Recognition

CurriculumDevelop-

ment

StudentSupport

Learning,Teaching

& Assessment

Institutional Development & Support

SLE

Developing a distinctive approach to the Academy’s work in Scotland

– Policy divergence between Scotland and other parts of UK

– UK-wide versus Scottish-specific balance– Central Academy and SCs- closer integration– Partnership working– July 2006 paper to Academy’s Board

“Academy Scotland”

• 1 Senior Adviser, 0.4 Senior Associate, 1 Project Officer, 0.4 Administrator

• Co-located with Universities Scotland, Edinburgh

• Subject Centres (main site, partner sites, country coordinators, key contacts)

• Partner of the overarching Quality Working Group

• Representation on national HE L+T Committees and Fora

• HEI Liaison Scheme

• Quarterly Newsletter

• Sounding Board

• Emphases on individual practitioners, institutions and national policy.

www.heacademy.ac.uk/scotland.htm

The Academy in Scotland- 2006/07 Strategic Priorities

www.heacademy.ac.uk/scotland.htm

• Joining up at policy, institutional and individual levels. To deliver a coherent package of support to the Scottish sector and contribute to the development of the QEF.

• Practical “how to” support for individual institutions in areas identified by them in relation to L, T and A strategies and other aspects of the student learning experience.

• A greater focus on supporting the professional development of individual staff. Through the Subject Centres, accreditation activities and national recognition of individuals’ commitment to learning and teaching via an inclusive approach.

• Increasing work with students including collaborative activities with sparqs.

• Thematic priorities for curriculum design. Employability, PDP, the Research-Teaching nexus, assessment, e-learning and education for sustainable development.

Dundee- Academy links

• 2 Accredited programmes (PGCerts in HE T and T in Med Edu)• 177 Registered Practitioners, 1 Assoc Practitioner• Subject Centres- contacts, grants, dept’l visits, events, ADM

country consultant• PVC/VP Network• Change Academy 2006• Scottish e-learning benchmarking group• Scottish HE Employability Network• Academy Scotland Sounding Board- Lorraine Walsh member• Research project funding• Participation in UK-wide surveys: e-pdp and e-portfolios, PG

research students experience• ???

Discussion and questions

alastair.robertson@heacademy.ac.ukwww.heacademy.ac.uk

Disciplines and subjects – examples of engagement

• Subject-specific information and resources (databases, knowledge banks, case studies, question banks, journals and guides)

• Events, departmental workshops, teaching and student awards

• Brokerage and collaboration activities include mini-project funding, establishing partnerships and special interest groups

• Interdisciplinary collaborations address mutual concerns• Subject specific support for assessment, e-learning,

employability and enterprise• Help subject communities respond to the challenges posed

by emerging policy issues– Departmental contacts at Dundee….