2011

The UK Professional Standards Framework for teaching and supporting learning in higher education

What is the framework?

It provides a means to comprehensively recognise and benchmark teaching and learning support roles within HE.

It describes the main dimensions of the roles of teaching and supporting learning within the HE environment.

From the perspective of the practitioner.

What are the framework’s main components?

The descriptors

The dimensions of practice

What are the dimensions of practice?

A set of statements outlining the:

Areas of Activity undertaken by teachers and supporters of learning within HE

Core Knowledge that is needed to carry out those activities at the appropriate level

Professional Values that someone performing these activities should embrace and exemplify

What are the descriptors?

Short statements

Outlining the key characteristics…

Of someone performing four broad categories of typical teaching and learning support roles within Higher Education.

How has the framework changed?

Refined and improved

Descriptor 3 revised to facilitate recognition of Senior Fellows

Descriptor 4 added, which corresponds to Principal Fellow

Who does it belong to?

Developed by the Academy

On behalf of the sector

It is the property of all those with a direct interest in the Higher Education sector

What is the Academy’s role?

The Academy provides:

Recognition as an Associate Fellow, Fellow, Senior Fellow and Principal Fellow

An accreditation service for educational development programmes and schemes

You can use the framework to:

Gain recognition for your own teaching and learning support activities

Plan and guide your own Continuing Professional Development in the area of teaching and learning

Promote the professionalisation of teaching and learning support within Higher Education

And you can use it to:

Foster creative and innovative approaches to teaching and learning

Enable staff to gain recognition and reward for developing their capabilities as teachers and supporters of learning

Gain Academy accreditation for education development programmes and schemes

And you can use it to:

Enhance the quality and prominence of teaching and learning activities

Facilitate and support the design and delivery of initial and continuing education development programmes and activities

Demonstrate to students and other stakeholders the professionalism that staff and institutions brings to teaching and support for student learning

And you can use it to!

Develop policies and systems for the recognition and reward of teaching and learning support staff

Promote a strong culture of teaching and learning support

To find out more

About the Framework http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/ukpsf

About the Fellowship scheme http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/professional-recognition

About Accreditation http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/accreditation