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Heads of Departments of Mathematical Sciences Conference

The HEA and Future Development in Learning and Teaching

Professor Craig MahoneyChief Executive, Higher Education Academy

8th April 2011

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The HEA: leading on teaching

The HEA is the sector body responsible for leading and shaping learning and teaching in HE.

The HEA’s vision is for academic staff to be equipped as outstanding teachers to deliver the best possible learning experience to students in UK higher education.

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Refocusing for the future: the wider contextAs the sector changes, so must we.

Changing landscapes in the UK and abroad:■ Economic climate means shifting priorities in HEIs■ Student voice: Rise in student fees in England ■ Scotland: ‘Curriculum for excellence’ reform■ Forthcoming White Paper■ Expansion of HE providers■ Borderless University: In 2008-09, there were 368,970 non-UK

students at UK HEIs, a 15% increase since 2004-05 (Source: International higher education in facts and figures (UK HE International Unit, Summer 2010)

The sector, and the HEA, must respond to remain relevant.

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Refocusing for the future: continuity and development

■ Continuity of provision (subject support)

■ Build on existing areas of excellence

■ Develop new areas of work

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Subject-level support

Support at subject level,

to academics in their discipline communities,

remains at the heart of HEA’s work

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Academic leadership roles

Academic Heads x 6■ STEM■ Arts & Humanities■ Health & Professions■ Social Sciences■ Institutional Policy■ Teaching Excellence

Supported by:■ Discipline Leads - 28■ Academic Leads - 10■ Academic Development

Officers – 18■ Academic Associates - 25

PLUS

National Coordinator x 2: Scotland, Wales & NI

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Maths, Stats & OR Network

■ Many achievements including:►Workshops for postgraduates who teach ►PG Cert in Teaching Stats in HE ►Revision of QAA benchmark►Support and nurturing of networks►‘Connections’ magazine

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The Future Academy: an overview

Focus on■ Academic practice development■ Teacher excellence: increased attention on

quality and recognition of teaching, plus student expectations

■ Institutional strategy and change

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Academic Practice Development

■ Current Issues in Learning and Teaching: Workshop/Seminar Series

■ Support for staff new to teaching■ Supporting postgraduates who

teach■ Teaching Development grants■ Resources centre

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Current Issues in Learning & Teaching: Workshops & Seminars

■ A series of subject-specific and thematic workshops, seminars and events

■ Pilots of videoed, podcasted and interactive online events

■ Good practice guidance and materials on enhancement activities, events and projects

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Support for Staff ‘New to Teaching’

■ Toolkit of high quality resources targeted at those new to teaching

■ Subject-focused induction courses

■ Online resources centre

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Supporting Postgraduate Students who Teach

■ Discipline-focused workshops►Planning and preparation►Presentation and

communication►Facilitation and problem solving►Participation and support►Assessment and feedback

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Teaching Development Grants

■ Better resourced■ Stimulate pedagogic

research and innovation■ Dissemination of results■ Promote diversity of bids■ Encourage

collaborations

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Resources Centre

■ Interactive web services for networking, sharing and disseminating

■ Range of subject-related learning and teaching journals

■ Tailored web facilities■ General and subject specialist

advice

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Teacher Excellence

■ UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF)

■ Accreditation Services

■ Individual Recognition Service

■ National Teaching Awards

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UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF)

■ UKPSF – national sector owned standards framework

■ Guidance provided and updated regularly

■ Report on UKPSF’s profile of use

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Accreditation Services

■ Further develop accreditation service►PG Certificate►CPD provision

■ Review and re-accreditation■ International accreditation

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Individual Recognition Service

■ Academy Fellowship►Reviewed►Developed►In liaison with HEIs and

other providers

■ High quality and robust

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National Teaching Awards

■ National Teaching Fellowship Scheme►Maintain and develop►Work towards UK-wide

scheme

■ Student-led teaching awards►Pilot a UK-wide scheme for

excellent teaching

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Focus: Teacher excellence

■ Heart of HEA mission■ Development of reward and recognition work

with GENIE CETL■ Accreditation service

Your views?

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Institutional Strategy and Change

■ Strategic, institutionally-led change: programme of events

■ Learning and teaching survey research: developing intelligence

■ Consultancy Services: learning and teaching in higher education

■ Policy ‘Think Tank’ on Learning and Teaching in higher education

■ Subscriber and Partnership Development

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Strategic, Institutionally-led Change

■ Flexible programme of support for institutional strategic change.

■ Meeting current and developing needs and priorities.

■ Characterised by a clear enhancement-led focus.

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Learning and Teaching Survey Research: Developing Intelligence

■ Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES)

■ Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES)

■ ‘State of the subject’ Reports: National Students’ Survey

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Consultancy Services

■ At many different levels to address key issues►L&T in Higher Education: ‘Getting more for less’►L&T challenges for International Staff and Students►Learning, Teaching, and Leading to maximise

students’ learning opportunities►Commissioned/bespoke ‘Change Academy’ provision►Using evidence to manage change In Learning and

Teaching (2011-13).

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Leading Learning and Teaching: Academy Summits

■ Forum for senior managers■ Developed out of PVC network■ Linked with HEA’s Policy Think Tank■ Strong focus on influencing national policies

and institutional strategies

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Policy ‘Think Tank’ on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

■ Limited Policy think tank function:►‘Policy watch’ and alerts►Commission and publish policy ‘position papers’►Policy related R&D to influence debates and

decisions►Input into national policy consultations►Advice to government, funders, etc

■ Policy influence and stakeholder work

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Subscriber and Partnership Development

■ Effective relationship management►Intuitional subscriber relations►Partnership development with

key non-institutional stakeholders

►Professional Statutory and Regulatory Body ‘Future Teaching Summits’.

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Integrated Thematic Work

■ Internationalisation■ Assessment and

Feedback■ Employability■ Flexible learning■ Retention and success■ Reward and recognition.

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Why?

A learning experience that will equip students for the rest of their lives.