Presentation by Professor Simon Haslett at the Aegean Omiros College, Athens, Greece, on Thursday 19th May 2011. Simon Haslett is Professor of Physical Geography and Dean of the School of STEM at the University of Wales.

1. Promoting Professional Standards In Higher Education Professor Simon Haslett Dean, School of STEM Presented at the Aegean-OmirosCollege, Athens, Greece Thursday 19th May 2011

2. Contents United Kingdom Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) Developing University of Wales support Research-informed Teaching Promoting Scholarship of Learning and Teaching (SoLT) and Pedagogic Research (PedR) Other University of Wales support in development

4. There are three standard descriptors (SDs) each of which is applicable to a number of staff roles and to different career stages.

5. The SDs are underpinned by areas of professional activity, core knowledge and professional values.

6. The framework provides a reference point for institutions and individuals as well as supporting ongoingdevelopment.

7. The framework was developed by the Higher Education Academy on behalf of Universities UK (UUK), GuildHE and the four UK higher education funding councils.

8. They recognise the diversity of institutions and enable a sector-owned approach to learning and teaching standards.

10. Professional Standards Framework Areas of Activity Design and planning of learning activities and/or programmes of study. Teaching and/or supporting student learning. Assessment and giving feedback to learners. Developing effective environments and student support and guidance. Integration of scholarship, research and professional activities with teaching and supporting learning. Evaluation of practice and continuing professional development.

11. Professional Standards Framework Core Knowledge The subject material. Appropriate methods for teaching and learning in the subject area and at the level of the academic programme. How students learn, both generally and in the subject. The use of appropriate learning technologies. Methods for evaluating the effectiveness of teaching. The implications of quality assurance and enhancement for professional practice.

12. Professional Standards Framework Professional Values Respect for individual learners. Commitment to incorporating the process and outcomes of relevant research, scholarship and/or professional practice. Commitment to development of learning communities. Commitment to encouraging participation in higher education, acknowledging diversity and promoting equality of opportunity. Commitment to continuing professional development and evaluation of practice.

13. Professional Standards Framework Standard Descriptor 1: Demonstrates an understanding of the student learning experience through engagement with at least 2 of the 6 areas of activity, appropriate core knowledge and professional values; the ability to engage in practices related to those areas of activity; the ability to incorporate research, scholarship and/or professional practice into those activities. Staff Groups: Postgraduate teaching assistants, staff new to higher education teaching with no prior qualification or experience, staff whose professional role includes a small range of teaching and learning support activity.

14. Professional Standards Framework Standard Descriptor 2: Demonstrates an understanding of the student learning experience through engagement with all areas of activity, core knowledge and professional values; the ability to engage in practices related to all areas of activity; the ability to incorporate research, scholarship and/or professional practice into those activities. Staff Groups: Staff who have a substantive role in learning and teaching to enhance the student experience.

15. Professional Standards Framework Standard Descriptor 3: Supports and promotes student learning in all areas of activity, core knowledge and professional values through mentoring and leading individuals and/or teams; incorporates research, scholarship and/or professional practice into those activities. Staff Groups: Experienced staff who have an established track record in promoting and mentoring colleagues in learning and teaching to enhance the student learning experience.

16. HEA Fellowship and University of Wales Fellowship of the HEA demonstrates that your practice aligns with the Professional Standards Framework and that you can provide evidence. Associate Fellowship is available for non-teaching learning support staff. Routes to HEA Fellowship include: Direct application – completing a form detailing evidence from your practice (3000 words; must have been teaching for >2 years; for experienced lecturers; costs £50) – developing some support. Postgraduate Certificate – Undertake a PGCert accredited by the HEA e.g. PGCert Developing Professional Practice in HE through distance learning with the University of Wales, Newport (currently £1500 fee; ideal for new lecturers). Continuing Professional Development – Undertake a course of staff development events accredited by the HEA. The new University of Wales Faculty is developing such a course that hopes to accredit Moderator and External Examiner led CPD sessions, plus online resources (fee to be fixed).

17. PGCert Developing Professional Practice in HE 60 M-Level credits HEA accredited One year, part-time Two modules (SDs 1-2) Distance learning online (from Feb 2010) Covers not only teaching but research Assessment: teaching portfolio and action research project Fee: £1500 Developing an MA in HE

18. Research-informed TeachingSystematic inquiry into the L & T process. Which approaches are you most involved in?

19. Learning and TeachingScholarship and Research Become active at your own institution and attend University of Wales events and join networks. Encourage staff to become active members of communities of practice e.g. subject associations. Apply or study for Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) (+ subject centres). Membership of the Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE): Annual Conference at Newport (7-9 December 2011). Membership of the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSoTL): Annual Conference Liverpool (October 2010) Annual Conference Milwaukee (October 2011)

20. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning individually-focused scholarship for personal use; internally-focused scholarship for local (e.g. departmental, institutional) use; externally-focused scholarship, disseminate the outcomes of your scholarship more widely, such as external L&T Conferences, Workshops, and practitioner publications; and research for external dissemination at research conferences and in research publications (i.e. pedagogic research). Where does your SoTL sit? (from Haslett, 2009, based on Ashwin and Trigwell, 2004; RAE, 2005)

21. SoTL and Pedagogic Research Why do/would you do it? Underpin your teaching in the curriculum Strategic e.g. research-informed teaching Contractual e.g. teaching-led research Personal professional updating/reflection and career Disseminate examples of practice What do/would you research? Generic issues e.g. student engagement Case studies e.g. examples of teaching How do/would you do it? Individually or collaboratively? Funding for research and publication e.g. grants? Output types e.g. books, articles, conferences? Time and space to undertake research and writing?

23. Develop a shared calendar of staff development events

24. Themed conference on ‘Research-informed Teaching’, 13-14 Sept 2011, Gregynog Hall, Wales.

25. Provide discipline-specific L&T support

26. Use UW Global Campus website to archive and disseminate materials

27. UW Teaching Fellows

28. A UW Academy of L&T Award Winners

30. http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/ourwork/universitiesandcolleges/accreditation/ukpsf

31. University of Wales, Newport, PGCert Developing Professional Practice in HE

32. http://www.newport.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/Pages/DevelopingProfessionalPracticeinHigherEducation.aspx

33. http://www.newport.ac.uk/research/researchcentres/researchcentres/CELT/PGCertHEDistanceLearning/Pages/default.aspx

34. University of Wales Faculty – our new webpages

35. http://www.wales.ac.uk/en/Faculty/FacultyHome.aspx

36. Unpicking the links between research and teaching in higher education by Simon K. Haslett.

37. http://hdl.handle.net/10774/341