The University of Brighton Professional Development and Recognition Scheme

The University of Brighton is currently piloting a Professional Development and Recognition Scheme which will provide a framework for continuing professional development and a vehicle for the recognition of staff qualifications and experience. The scheme integrates all four levels of the UK Professional Standards Framework for Teaching and Learning in HE (UK PSF), which is managed by the Higher Education Academy (HEA).

The new scheme incorporates the existing qualification-based route to professional recognition, based on CLT courses accredited by the HEA, alongside a new locally managed portfolio route. 

Why is the University developing this Scheme?

There is increasing emphasis across the sector on the professionalisation of teaching in higher education. For instance, the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) now requires Higher Education Institutions to submit annual data on teaching qualifications held by academic teaching staff. You may recently have been contacted by Human Resources with a request for this information. Many staff will have completed the CLT Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching, or equivalent at another university, and some other teaching qualifications are considered eligible by HESA.

The University's Strategic Plan 2012-2015, which reflects the distinct identity of University of Brighton and its partner colleges, also includes the expectation that: "By 2015 all academic staff will have, or be working towards, a university teaching qualification or institutionally recognised equivalent, with an embedded digital literacy component."

However, the Scheme is not just about gaining qualifications. It is also designed to support more experienced staff to develop their practice, plan and record their professional development and gain recognition at each stage.

The Scheme as a whole will be accredited by the HEA, and the awards will mirror their Fellowship scheme, but local ownership allows us to tailor the process to the particular requirements of the University of Brighton and partner colleges.

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What is the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF)?

The UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) is co-ordinated by the Higher Education Academy (HEA). It sets out three ‘dimensions’ – Areas of Activity, Core Knowledge, and Professional Values - which each contain a number of aspects considered to be key for those working in HE. Engagement with these forms the basis for four Descriptors, which in turn map to levels of fellowship conferred by the HEA. For more detail please see the UK PSF website.

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Overview of the Scheme

The University of Brighton Scheme uses the HEA’s Descriptors and levels of Fellowship, so achieving the Associate, Fellowship, Senior Fellowship or Principal Fellowship levels within our Scheme entitles you to the same HEA recognition.

The Scheme encompasses formal qualifications (the PGCertificate in Learning & Teaching in HE, the MA in Education) as well as routes to recognition at all four levels. An overview is provided in the table below.

Stage/Fellowship Level

‘Qualification’ route

‘Portfolio’ route

UoB Stage 1: Associate Fellowship
(maps to UK PSF Descriptor 1).

For new staff or those with limited teaching responsibilities (e.g. PhD students), other staff who support student learning (e.g. technicians, those in Information Services or student support roles).

Module LT725

(this is the first module of the PgCert L&THE)

 

Account of professional practice (APP) and:
+ Development plan;
+ Statements from 2 referees

May also draw upon any relevant CLT modules

UoB Stage 2: Fellowship
(maps to Descriptor 2)

For early career academics, those new to teaching in the UK, support staff with significant teaching responsibilities.
Also suitable for more experienced staff who wish to gain a qualification while developing specific aspects of their practice

PG Certificate in Learning & Teaching in HE

(or discipline-based equivalent)

Account of professional practice (APP) and:
+ Development plan;
+ Statements from 2 referees

May also draw upon any relevant CLT modules

UoB Stage 3: Senior Fellowship
(maps to Descriptor 3).

For experienced staff who can demonstrate a sustained record of effectiveness in learning & teaching, including the organisation, management and leadership of teaching provision.

n/a

Account of professional practice (APP) and +Development plan
+ Two case studies;
+ Statements from 2 referees

May also draw upon any relevant CLT modules

UoB Stage 4: Principal Fellowship
(maps to Descriptor 4).

For highly experienced and/or senior staff with strategic academic responsibilities – within and without their institution.

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n/a

Account of professional practice; statements from 3 advocates

 

Qualification routes – how do I apply?

The CLT offers a PGCert course and an MA Education (HE). The PGCert course maps to Descriptor 2 of the Scheme, and successful completion therefore automatically qualifies you for Fellowship of both the UoB Scheme and the HEA. If you successfully complete the first module of the course only (module LT725), you will automatically qualify for Associate Fellowship. Those wishing to extend their studies have the opportunity to progress to the MA Education (HE).

Although designed originally to benefit those new to lecturing, the PGCert course now offers a flexible structure which can also support more experienced staff who wish to gain a qualification.  You can find further information about CLT courses and modules by following the links in the left hand menu. If you would like to apply for the PGCert course (or the first module) or MA, or to explore which is the best option for you, please contact the Course Leader, Juliet Eve (j.eve@brighton.ac.uk).

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Independent portfolio route – what is involved?

The UoB Scheme has adopted the HEA system for enabling lecturers and other staff who support learning and teaching to gain fellowship at any of the four levels. The requirements for each level, and the support available, are outlined.

Applicants for Associate and Fellowship Levels who choose the independent portfolio route rather than the PGCert course will need to:

  • Complete an 'Account of Professional Practice' (APP), which maps your practice to the dimensions of the UKPSF appropriate to your level. You will need to provide evidence to support your account (e.g. in the form of student feedback)
  • Provide 2 referee statements, one of which should be from your Head of School/Department
  • Provide a development plan identifying future goals for your CPD and how you will achieve these

Applicants for Senior Fellowship will need to:

  • Complete an 'Account of Professional Practice' (APP) which maps your practice to the dimensions of the UKPSF appropriate to your level. You will need to provide evidence to support your account (e.g. in the form of student feedback).
  • Complete two case studies outlining your contribution to learning & teaching in HE
  • Provide 2 referee statements, one of which should be from your Head of School/Department
  • Provide a development plan identifying future goals for your CPD and how you will achieve these.

Applicants for Principal Fellowship will need to:

  • Complete an 'Account of Professional Practice' (APP) which maps your practice to the dimensions of the UKPSF appropriate to your level.
  • Provide 3 advocate statements

The following support is available for those applying for recognition at any of the first three levels,:

  • Introductory workshop, outlining in more detail what you have to produce;
  • Three further action learning set meetings where you will meet with peers to share and give feedback on progress;
  • Access to CLT staff who will be able to help you identify what resources we offer to support any identified development needs;
  • A School-based mentor to help guide you through the process.

Those wishing to apply for Principal Fellowship should contact the Head of the CLT, Professor Gina Wisker, who will be able to direct you towards appropriate support.

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Other frequently asked questions

  • Why should I take part? There are a number of reasons:
    1. The University is committed to offering staff development opportunities for all those teaching across our HE courses (both at the UoB and in our partner colleges), and the creation of the Scheme provides you with a framework to identify CPD needs and gain support in meeting them.
    2. The Scheme not only offers support for and qualifications/recognition in developing professional skills of HE lecturers, but it also provides a vehicle to recognise the significant professional learning that goes on outside of formal courses and qualifications as you develop your teaching practice and expertise in other academic roles.
    3. The increasing professionalisation of teaching, and the recognition of that as a professional skill, is happening across the HE sector. Evidence to support your expertise as a lecturer (whether via membership of an HEA accredited scheme such as this or a PGCert/MA qualification) may well become an important factor when applying for jobs.
    4. The government – via HESA (the Higher Education Statistics Agency) - is requiring universities to submit annual data on numbers of teaching staff with teaching qualifications, so this is increasingly becoming a requirement. The University has thus embedded in our Strategic Plan that all teaching staff will have, or be working towards such a qualification.
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  • I have a qualification that is already recognised by HESA – do I still need to do this?
    If you can tick one of the listed boxes when you receive your HESA return form from Human Resources, (or you have another qualification recognised by HESA), you will not be required at this stage to engage in the UoB Scheme. However, the Scheme offers you the opportunity to develop your professional role and gain further recognition (e.g. as a Senior Fellow).
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  • I have an MA Education – is this equivalent to Senior Fellowship?
    No, although a PGCert in Learning & Teaching will automatically qualify you for Fellowship level (UKPSF Descriptor 2), an MA Education does not automatically lead to recognition as a Senior Fellow (Descriptor 3). This is because Senior Fellowship requires you to demonstrate leadership in learning & teaching in some way, so your professional experience (though this may well have been supported by an MA) is likely to be more significant here.
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  • Do I need to be teaching to undertake this?
    To take the CLT modules or courses or to apply for recognition via the independent route of the Scheme, you need to already have some teaching or be supporting student learning in some way (e.g. as a member of Information Services, as a technician or technical demonstrator). If you are not on a ‘teaching contract’ you may well be able to apply for Associate Fellowship of the Scheme (mapped to Descriptor 1 in HEA terms).
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  • Is there a cost to me for this?
    No, there is no cost to individual staff to submit to the Scheme, or to take a CLT module/course.
  • Why not just go through the application process directly with the HEA?
    If you apply directly to the HEA for Fellowship/Senior Fellowship, you will have to complete a very similar process to that within the University Scheme. However, you will not be supported through the process as you will be under the UoB Scheme, and you will also have to pay several hundred pounds yourself to submit your application to the HEA.
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  • How much time will it take up?
    This is much like the proverbial 'string' question, and it also depends on which route you take to whatever level of the scheme you are working towards.
    If you choose to take the qualification route (e.g. via the PGCertificate in Learning & Teaching in HE course), you will need to complete three 20 credit modules (this can be done over the course of an academic year), and you will need to attend workshops which support those modules as well as attend regular action learning sets. This would equate to 600 hours in the University's model for calculating hours per module. However, as this is a work-based course the assessments relate to your existing teaching practice, the majority of this time would be taken up doing what you already do. A realistic guideline for additional hours per week is a minimum of three, although – as with the advice we give our own students – you get more out of the experience if you put more in. If you take the independent route, you will need to attend three or four workshops and engage in online peer support activity as part of your commitment. The amount of time to complete the mapping and evaluation will depend again on how much you put into this process, as well as other factors – for example, you may identify a development need as part of this process and therefore choose to attend a workshop or complete a module before submitting your final statement.
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  • Can we do this remotely?
    You will need to attend some face to face set meetings if you submit via the independent route, though there will also be online resources to help you; if you are taking CLT courses or modules as either a route to recognition or in support of your application, these will also normally involve a blended learning approach.
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  • What support is available from the University/partner college in terms of time?
    As with all staff development, this will need to be negotiated locally with your Head of School/Department. We recommend that you discuss your needs in a staff development review – your attendance on CLT module and course and/or your submission to the Scheme will need to be supported and signed off by the HoS/HoD
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  • How long do I have to complete my application?
    You will be encouraged to submit your application within a year of signing up to the Scheme. If during your mapping exercise, you identify development needs which require you to do further work before you meet all the criteria, this period may be extended.
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  • What if I can’t complete the requirements without further training?
    At the start of the mapping process you may well discover that you need some professional development in one (or more) areas. You will be able to discuss your needs with a member of the CLT who will recommend a suitable way of meeting these (e.g. via a CLT workshop or module, via an expansion of your role in your School/Department, perhaps via a local mentor who can help you develop your practice).
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  • How does this link to promotion and grading processes?
    Currently this has not been formally tied into the promotion and grading process, but staff have been able to use their gaining of the PGCert as part of a promotion application. Much of the documentation you would produce for a promotion application can be recycled as an application for (Senior) Fellowship of the Scheme (and vice versa).
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  • What happens when I am ready to submit?
    When your APP and supporting documents are ready, they can be submitted to the Scheme’s Recognition Panel (see below) for consideration. All applications must be submitted electronically, though this can take many forms - from a Word document to an e-portfolio. The CLT has set up a support area within studentfolio, the University's e-portfolio system, which many students are already using; this offers a very useful platform for gathering your evidence and submitting your application, but is not compulsory.
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  • How will my application be assessed?
    The Recognition Panel is chaired by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Stuart Laing and includes members of the CLT and senior members of staff from across the University’s Schools and Departments. The Panel will meet several times a year.
    Applications for Associate or Fellowship level recognition through the qualifications route, following successful completion of a CLT module or course (i.e. the PGCert LTHE) will be automatically approved by the panel.
    Applications via the independent route, as well as those submitting for Senior and Principal Fellowship will have their application fully scrutinised in a lengthier process. Each application will be considered by three panel members in detail, one of whom will be from a relevant discipline area, and a recommendation put forward to the panel that the application be a) approved; b) needs some further work; c) does not meet the criteria for the appropriate Level of Fellowship being applied for. Everyone will receive feedback on their application, regardless of outcome. Applicants who need to re-submit will be invited to discuss their feedback and what they need to do before re-submission with a member of the CLT, and where appropriate, a relevant panel member. The panel will also include an external member (e.g. from the HEA or an experienced member of staff from another University/College).

    Following our internal processes, the HEA will be informed of the outcomes in order to recognise and award the HEA fellowships at all 4 levels.
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University of Brighton Documents

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