Introduction to the uk professional standards framework august 2013

Raj Dhimar

Professional Standards Framework (PSF)

2

Session outline

• Explore your interests and expectations of the PSF

• Provide opportunities for you to interpret and engage with the PSF

• Understand the dimensions and descriptors

• Consider the PSF’s potential uses and implications to higher education providers

• Identifying future needs for Thailand higher education in the context of professional standards for teaching and supporting learning

“Qualifications” for higher education lecturers?• Dearing (1997) - enhancing professionalism

of HE teaching, the future of higher education white paper (2003), students and the heart of the system white paper (2011)

• Learning and Teaching Support Network (LTSN)

• Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education - membership organisation

• The Higher Education Academy - subscription organisation

• Higher Education Statistics Agency - staff profiles

Teaching Quality - external drivers (UK) - historic and current

3

4

Why are training and CPD important?

Those who are trained have greater self awareness of the factors impacting on learning

environments

Professional development leading to professional recognition provides a

benchmark for individuals and institutions, and gives the general population and

students themselves confidence that they are

being supported by qualified, capable and competent

professionals.

Research evidence in this area is limited but examples are available – e.g. Impact of

Teaching Development programmes for HE.

HE providers have autonomy to develop and manage staff

for their own individual circumstances.

• PSF provides set of descriptors, developed with the sector, against which institutions can benchmark their approaches to the professional development of staff. 

• Sector-owned, managed by the HEA.

• Offers universities and colleges criteria which support the initial and continuing professional development for staff who teach and support student learning.

• Flexible framework that is adaptable to the needs of the individual and of the institution.

• Many institutions use the PSF and seek external validation of their approaches to professional development against the framework. The HEA alone accredits over 400 provision in over130 HEIs across the UK.

• Not mandatory. There are other routes to accreditation too, which the HEA welcomes.

• Has potential to be a key indicator of UK HE’s ongoing commitment to teaching, as well as giving confidence that minimum threshold standards have been met by academic staff.

5

Professional Standards Framework

A framework for HEIs to:• Align initial and continuing professional

development provision for all staff involved in teaching and supporting learning in Higher Education

• Inform progression, promotion and reward criteria

Comprises :Dimensions (Areas of Activity, Core

Knowledge and Professional Values)Descriptors (D1, 2, 3 and 4) equivalent to

Associate Fellow, Fellow, Senior Fellow and Principal Fellow

The PSF

7

8

The Dimensio

ns

Areas of ActivityUndertaken by teachers and supporters of

learning within higher education

Core KnowledgeNeeded to carry

out those activities

appropriately Professional Values

the manner in which teaching professionals

should perform and carry out their

learning and teaching activities

Design & plan (A1)

Teach/support learning (A2)

Assess & feedback (A3)

Evaluate & Develop (A5)

Environment

SupportGuidance

(A4)

The Areas of Activity

9

Uses of the Framework (1)

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

Uses of the Framework (2)

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

learningGain Academy

accreditation for education

development programmes and CPD

schemes

Uses of the Framework (3)

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

activitiesDemonstrate to

students and other stakeholders the professionalism

that staff and institutions brings to teaching and support for student learning

Professional Standards Framework consultation

13

What does the teaching community think?

HEA , (2011), PSF consultation, recognising excellence in teaching and learning

Broad general support for the idea that those who teach in HE should be appropriately qualified

Strong support (66%) for transparency of public

information in relation to teaching qualifications

and fellowships

Strong support (89%) for collaboration between the

HEA and relevant professional bodies in

relation to the alignment of standards providing

this was limited, targeted and not overly resource-

intensive

a) Explore the PSF. • - How do you interpret it? • - What are the distinctions between the

Descriptors?• - How might you interpret the

Dimensions in your own practice?

b) What challenges/opportunities can you identify in your interpretation of the Framework? 15

Activity

To find out more

16

About the Professional Standards Framework

http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/ukpsf

About Professional Recognition

http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/professional-recognition

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