Professional Recognition

The UK Professional Standards Framework

A sector-owned UK Professional Standards framework has been developed for institutions to apply to their professional development programmes and activities and therefore demonstrate that professional standards for teaching and supporting teaching are being met. Schemes following this framework are accredited by the Higher Education Academy. There are three different standards to be met, the first for those new to teaching and postgraduate teaching assistants, working through to standard three for experienced staff with an established track record in promoting and mentoring colleagues in learning and teaching.

Professional Recognition Scheme

The Higher Education Academy has developed a Professional Recognition Scheme which is designed to support the sector-owned UK Professional Standards Framework. There are three categories of recognition:

• Associate of the Higher Education Academy (AHEA) for people who are new to or have a limited role within teaching and Learning
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) for people with a substantive role in teaching and enhancing student learning
• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) for people who have outstanding achievement in teaching and enhancing the student learning experience, combined with scholarship and academic leadership. To achieve this you must have reached standard descriptor three of the UK Professional Standards Framework but this alone is not sufficient to be recognised as a Senior Fellow.

There are four different routes by which you can gain recognition through the scheme depending on the level you wish to attain and your experience.

Taking an accredited course:

The first two categories may be attained if you have completed a professional development programme within your own institution which has been applied to the UK Professional Standards Framework and is accredited by the Higher Education Academy. Courses that are accredited as standard descriptor 1 are equal to Associate category and those accredited as standard 2 are equal to Fellow of Academy. There is a list of approved courses on the Academy website. However, it is not possible to become a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, simply by taking a course within your own institution.

Individual recognition:

If you have not taken an accredited course, for whatever reason, it is still possible to be recognised at all levels of the Professional Recognition Scheme. Applications via the individual recognition route are peer reviewed against a set of recognition criteria. This is the only route by which you can become a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Being a National Teaching Fellow:

If you are a National Teaching Fellow you may apply for automatic recognition as a Fellow of the Academy.  However you may wish to follow the individual recognition route to gain Senior Fellow status.

Collaborative Agreement:

Finally you may apply for Fellow status via Collaborative Agreement. The Higher Education Academy is currently renegotiating collaborative agreements with a number of professional bodies and you may be eligible to apply via this route.

How the Centre Can Help You

If you are taking a course within your institution:

The Centre journal, Bioscience Education is a good source of peer reviewed innovative teaching and good practice. The case studies that we have compiled are also useful sources of information that may give you ideas and help you with assignments, see our resources page for a full list of publications that may help. Additionally, some institutions count attendance of a Centre professional development event towards their teaching and learning courses and as we will be mapping our activities against the standards framework it will be easier for Institutions to see how your involvement with the Centre should be counted towards your qualification.

If you are following the Individual Recognition Route:

We have mapped our activities against the recognition criteria set so you can quickly see which activities may help you gain professional recognition. For example, if your core knowledge of the use of appropriate learning technologies is weak you may wish to attend one of our professional development events on e-learning. We provide certificates to delegates as evidence of attendance and include which criteria have been addressed at that particular event. All interaction with the Centre may help you work towards a category of recognition from publishing in the Centre Bulletin to contributing to the Wiki to being an active part of a network.