Heads of Departments of
Mathematical Sciences Conference
The HEA and Future Development in
Learning and Teaching
Professor Craig Mahoney
Chief Executive, Higher Education Academy
8th April 2011
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
context
As the sector changes, so must we.
Changing landscapes in the UK and abroad:
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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
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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.
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