Developing a distinctive approach to the Academy’s work in Scotland

Alastair RobertsonSenior Adviser, Scotland

Presentation at University of Stirling,

14 November 2006

Outline of talk

• Background to the meeting• Purpose of the meeting and intended outcomes• Developing a distinctive approach• Discussion

Engaging with Scottish HEIs and policy agenda- Purposes

– To highlight range of activities SCs and central Academy colleagues are currently engaged in;

– To hear from Scottish colleagues about what the kind of support they would welcome from SCs;

– To share current SC strategies and practices with the view to further supporting SCs wishing to expand their roles;

– To discuss issues surrounding staff engagement, in general;

– To provide a networking opportunity.

Engaging with Scottish HEIs and policy agenda- Intended outcomes

– New collaborations – Develop positive action plans (individual /

collective?)– Strengthen relationships with the Scottish sector– Contribute to and potentially influence future

policy-level discussions…– Written report for all SC colleagues and SHEEC.

Developing a distinctive approach to the Academy’s work in Scotland

– Policy divergence between Scotland and other parts of UK

– UK-wide versus Scottish-specific balance– Central Academy and SCs- closer integration– July 2006 paper to Academy’s Board

Scottish Funding Council 2006-07 Grant Letter• £2.012M

• UK-wide priorities:– “…certain key themes, including employability, flexible delivery, quality

enhancement of the student learning experience, social inclusion and widening participation (WP), will be stable long-term priorities across the UK…”

– Professional Teaching Standards; Burgess Group; Strengthening the external examiner system; Research and evaluation resources; Skills; Workplace learning; Student feedback and Teaching Quality Information (TQI); Sustainable development; Health of the disciplines; International dimension.

• Scottish-specific priorities– “…The key priority for SFC is for the Academy to match its support and services

to the distinctive quality enhancement arrangements which are in place in Scotland…”

– support for the embedding of enhancement themes in mainstream practice;– engagement of subject centres in enhancement themes.

“Academy Scotland”

• 1 Senior Adviser, 0.4 Senior Associate, 1 Project Officer, 0.4 Administrator

• Co-located with Universities Scotland, Edinburgh• Subject Centres (main site, partner sites, country coordinators, key

contacts)• Partner of the overarching Quality Working Group• Representation on national HE L+T Committees incl. SHEEC• HEI Liaison Scheme• Quarterly Newsletter• Sounding Board• Policy Developments Briefing (issue 1 due out December 2006)• Emphases on individual practitioners, institutions and national

policy.

www.heacademy.ac.uk/scotland.htm

The 2005-06 Institutional Liaison Scheme: Subject Centres- Perceptions

•Academy Scotland: Enhancement and Engagement, 24 May 2007, Stirling

• Current engagement:• Good 12%• Reasonable 23.5%• Mixed/variable 47%• Minimal 18%

• Need for greater connectivity between central Academy and Subject Centres and Institutions

• SCs generally recognised as key for increased buy-in and engagement from Academic staff

The Academy in Scotland- 2006/07 Strategic Priorities (Board paper)

• Joining up at policy, institutional and individual levels. To deliver a coherent package of support to the Scottish sector and contribute to the development of the QEF.

• Practical “how to” support for individual institutions in areas identified by them in relation to L, T and A strategies and other aspects of the student learning experience.

• A greater focus on supporting the professional development of individual staff. Through the Subject Centres, accreditation activities and national recognition of individuals’ commitment to learning and teaching via an inclusive approach.

• Increasing work with students including collaborative activities with sparqs.

• Thematic priorities for curriculum design. Employability, PDP, the Research-Teaching nexus, assessment, e-learning and sustainability.

Subject Centres’ recent activities in Scotland

1. Scottish Contacts and Networks

2. Discipline-focused events organised by SCs and held in Scotland

3. Funding of projects and mini-projects

4. Awards granted to Scottish academics and student awards

5. Scottish universities as partners in SC funded projects

6. Scottish contributions to journals/ magazines/ newsletters published by SCs

7. Departmental visits

Increased levels of engagement emerging!

Recent integrated activities in Scotland

1. Today

2. 2006 Subject Centre conference; session on Enh. Themes

3. 23 March 2006 event “Supporting QE in Scotland at the subject level” and 5 June 2006 event “Academy Scotland: Priorities and Plans”

4. Visits to SCs by SA, Scotland

5. SC representation on Scottish Sounding Board

6. SHEER project, sparqs project?

7. Scottish Newsletter- articles, event publicity….

8. Liaison Scheme visits…

9. Education for Sustainable Development, Employability, Assessment etc…

10.Policy Developments briefing; issue 1, Dec 2006

11.Support for Country Consultants, where appropriate?

12.Engaging key contacts? + + +??

Discussion question

• How might we most effectively support each other in our work in Scotland?

alastair.robertson@heacademy.ac.ukwww.heacademy.ac.uk