Nottingham Recognition Scheme
Guidance for Referees
D1 (Associate Fellow)
Thank you for agreeing to provide a reference to support your colleague’s Claim for Associate
Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) through the Nottingham Recognition
Scheme (NRS).
The decision to recognise colleagues as Associate Fellows is based on the alignment of their
practice with Descriptor 1 of the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF). See overleaf
for details.
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 record of effectiveness in relation to teaching and/or the support of learning in
higher education.
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 your discussion of their Presentation Plan,
basing your reference on how the Candidate meets the Dimensions of the UK Professional
Standards Framework (UKPSF) at Descriptor 1. These are listed overleaf.
You might like to include:
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practical examples to support your comments
comments based on your own observation of their teaching or support of learners (if
available)
comments on innovative practice and/or contribution to developments in 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
T&L Directorate, April 2015
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Nottingham Recognition Scheme
Descriptor 1 of the UKPSF
The decision to recognise colleagues as Associate Fellows is based on the alignment of their
practice with Descriptor 1 of the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF).
Descriptor 1 (Associate Fellow)
An individual working in this category demonstrates an understanding of specific aspects of
effective teaching, learning support methods and student learning. Individuals should be able
to provide evidence of:
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successful engagement with at least two of the five Areas of Activity;
successful engagement in appropriate teaching and practices related to these Areas of
Activity;
appropriate Core Knowledge and understanding of at least K1 and K2;
a commitment to appropriate Professional Values in facilitating others’ learning;
relevant professional practices, subject and pedagogic research and/or scholarship
within the above activities;
successful engagement, where appropriate, in professional development activity related
to teaching, learning and assessment responsibilities.
Areas of Activity
A1 Design and plan learning activities and/or programmes of study
A2 Teach and/or support learning
A3 Assess and give feedback to learners
A4 Develop effective learning environments and approaches to student support and guidance
A5 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
V3
Promote participation in higher education and equality of opportunity for learners
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
T&L Directorate, April 2015
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