Recognition as a Professional
Teacher in HE:
The Higher Education Academy
professional recognition scheme
Helen Barefoot
Learning and Teaching Institute
h.barefoot@herts.ac.uk / 01707 289424
Workshop Outcomes
On completion of this workshop participants should have:
•
•
•
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considered the importance of being a ‘dual professional’
had the opportunity to consider and discuss the HEA scheme
had the opportunity to begin to think about own submission
had opportunity to comment on issues of interest and concern
University of Hertfordshire perspective
• At UH we consider our academic staff to be dual professionals,
that is professional teachers in HE and professionals in their
own discipline.
• As ‘dual professionals’ all academic staff should engage in
continuous professional development as relevant and
appropriate to their learning and teaching role.
• UH supports the national professional recognition scheme of
the HEA and views it as an important marker of learning and
teaching professionalism.
• CPAD is a formal accredited programme
• Other CPD opportunities are available…
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)
4. Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA) new
HEA Professional Recognition Scheme
Recognition
Scheme
Accredited
Programme
Associate
x
x
Fellow
x
x
Senior Fellow
x
Principal
Fellow
x
Collaborative
agreement
x
NFTS
individual
award
x
UH Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher
Education is an accredited programme
• CPAD 1 gives associate status
• CPAD 1,2 3 and 4 gives full Fellow status
HEA’s Professional Recognition Scheme
Areas of activity – 600 words on each
1. Design and plan learning activities and/or programmes of study
2. Teach and/or supporting learning
3. Assess and give feedback to learners
4. Developing effective environments and approaches student
support and guidance
5. 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 material
2. Appropriate methods for teaching and learning in the subject
area and at the level of the academic programme
3. How students learn, both generally and in the subject /
disciplinary area
4. The use and value of appropriate learning technologies
5. Methods for evaluating the effectiveness of teaching
6. The implications of quality assurance and
enhancement for academic and professional
practice with a particular focus on teaching
HEA’s Professional Recognition Scheme
Professional values
1. Respect for individual learners and diverse learning
communities
2. Promote participation in higher education and equality of
opportunity for learners
3. 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
Professional Recognition Benefits
• Be recognised for the valuable professional work you do and
to celebrate this
• Valuable portable asset recognised across the sector
• Might be critical for promotion/career progression
• Help to keep up to date with latest developments in learning
and teaching (CPD events, networking)
• You can become involved in shaping national policy through
work with the HEA
Application
• 3000 word (approx) account of your Professional Practice as a
teacher and/or supporter of learning, spread evenly across
the five Areas of Activity
• Make clear how you apply your Core Knowledge and engage
with the Professional Values set out in the Framework
• At least two examples of your use of/commitment to each
element of the Professional Values and Core Knowledge in
some part of your account.
• Use the Area of Activity statements as sub headings for
your account. Aim to write ~600 words for each area
• Clearly identify where you have evidenced each of the
elements of the Core Knowledge and Professional
Values.
Application process
http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/fellow
1. Complete application requirements
2. Fill out the personal details form
3. Identify 2 appropriate referees
4. Send form plus references to Helen Barefoot for Institutional
signature
5. Send application to HEA via e-mail with the 2 references plus
£200
6. HEA will normally acknowledge receipt of your application by
email within seven working days.
7. Allow at least twelve weeks for complete processing.
Information to aid application
Things 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 Academy
http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/fellow
• Professional Standards Framework
http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/ourwork/universitiesandcolleg
es/accreditation/ukpsf
• Guidance on LTI Knowledge Exchange
http://www.studynet1.herts.ac.uk/intranet/lti.nsf/Teaching+
Documents?Openview&count=9999&restricttocategory=Prof
essional%20Development%20and%20Events/Fellowship+of+t
he+HEA&refresh=true
• Once you have applied can you please let Helen Barefoot
know (h.barefoot@herts.ac.uk)