Nottingham Recognition Scheme
Guidance for Referees
D3 (Senior Fellow)
Thank you for agreeing to provide a reference to support your colleague’s Claim for Senior Fellowship
of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) through the Nottingham Recognition Scheme (NRS).
The decision to recognise colleagues as Senior Fellows is based on the alignment of their practice with
Descriptor 3 of the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF). See overleaf for details. This
should be the focus of your reference.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the NRS Adviser.
Eligibility to provide a reference
In order to provide a reference, you should be in a position to comment on and substantiate the
Candidate’s evidence of a sustained record of effectiveness in relation to learning and teaching. This
evidence may incorporate, for example, the organisation, leadership and/or management of specific
aspects of learning and teaching provision.
Function of the reference
The reference should provide an informed peer review of your colleague’s work using your knowledge
of their practice and the context in which they teach or support learning in higher education. If
possible, please comment on their most recent role and responsibilities. Please take time to read
their Written Submission, or to discuss their Presentation Plan with them, to enable you to support
their Claim effectively.
Content of the reference
Please comment on their Written Submission, or on Descriptor 3 and your discussion of their
Presentation Plan, basing your reference on how the Candidate meets the Dimensions of the UK
Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF). These are listed overleaf. Your reference in particular
should support any claims made in relation to successful co-ordinations, support, supervision,
management and/or mentoring of others individuals and/or teams in relation to teaching and learning
(D3 vii) within the context of the applicant’s role(s).
You might like to include:


practical examples to support your comments
comments on contributions to developments in mentoring or in organising and leading
teaching and learning within their discipline.
Format
There is no standard format for references but you may find it helpful to align your reference with
your colleague’s Written Submission or Presentation Plan, or with the UKPSF.
Please provide your reference in pdf form, and on headed paper. Include the Candidate’s name and
School at the top of the reference and state that the reference is in support of their Claim for
recognition in the Nottingham Recognition Scheme. Please provide your name and School or
institutional / company affiliation at the end of the reference.
It is the Candidate’s responsibility to collect the reference from you.
We may contact you to clarify points in your reference.
www.nottingham.ac.uk/tld/nrs
Nottingham Recognition Scheme, March 2016
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Nottingham Recognition Scheme
Descriptor 3 of the UKPSF
The decision to recognise colleagues as Senior Fellows is based on the alignment of their practice with
Descriptor 3 of the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF).
Descriptor 3 (Senior Fellow)
An individual working in this category demonstrates a thorough understanding of effective
approaches to learning and teaching support as a key contribution to high quality student learning.
Individuals should be able to provide evidence of:

successful engagement across all five Areas of Activity;

appropriate knowledge and understanding across all aspects of Core Knowledge;

a commitment to all the Professional Values;

successful engagement in appropriate teaching practices related to the Areas of Activity;

successful incorporation of subject and pedagogic research and/or scholarship within the
above activities, as part of an integrated approach to academic practice;

successful engagement in continuing professional development in relation to teaching,
learning, assessment, scholarship and, as appropriate, related academic or professional
practices;

successful co-ordination, support, supervision, management and/or mentoring of
others (whether individuals and/or teams) in relation to learning and teaching.
Areas of Activity
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
Design and plan learning activities and/or programmes of study
Teach and/or support learning
Assess and give feedback to learners
Develop effective learning environments and approaches to student support and guidance
Engage in continuing professional development in subjects/disciplines and their pedagogy,
incorporating research, scholarship and the evaluation of professional practices
Core Knowledge
K1 The subject material
K2 Appropriate methods for teaching, learning and assessing in the subject area and at the level of
the academic programme
K3 How students learn, both generally and within their subject/disciplinary area(s)
K4 The use and value of appropriate learning technologies
K5 Methods for evaluating the effectiveness of teaching
K6 The implications of quality assurance and quality enhancement for academic and professional
practice with a particular focus on teaching
Professional Values
V1 Respect individual learners and diverse learning communities
V2 Promote participation in higher education and equality of opportunity for learners
V3 Use evidence-informed approaches and the outcomes from research, scholarship and continuing
professional development
V4 Acknowledge the wider context in which higher education operates recognising the implications
for professional practice
www.nottingham.ac.uk/tld/nrs
Nottingham Recognition Scheme, March 2016
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