1. Professional development and accreditation of HE teaching/learning support staff: the UK experience.
Sally Brown
Institute for Learning and Teaching
AISHE seminar Dublin January 2002

2. What does professionalising HE teaching mean in practice?
Designing, delivering, assessing and evaluating the curriculum appropriately
Achieving adequate (or better?) standards of performance
Demonstrating a commitment to students’ achievement
Demonstrating continuing self development
Adhering to relevant values eg recognising diversity, EO, promoting students’ learning etc

3. Carole Baume in OU course materials for H852 defines professionalism in teaching as:
Undertaking scholarship of teaching, searching out and applying new ideas and new understandings about how students learn and how you could better help the process

4. professionalism in teaching…
Continuing to reflect in, on and for action in your teaching, ensuring that you continue to learn from your teaching and apply this learning to your future teaching;
Applying a code of ethics to your work

5. Dearing Committee motivation for establishing the ILT
Higher Education unique in having no professional standards for learning and teaching
Need for demonstration and achievement of professionalism
Major challenges for learning and teaching in coming decades prompt changes of approach
Need to raise the status of teaching and learning support in HE

6. ILT: Core Functions
Self-regulation of professional standards in learning and teaching in higher education
Provision of enhancement opportunities for members
Creation/facilitation of inclusive community of practice in teaching and learning support
Fostering growth of evidence-based practice in T&LS and expansion of the evidence base - pedagogic research & action research
Representation of the practitioner’s voice in national debates on learning and teaching in HE

7. Joining the ILT: Based on five broad areas
Teaching and the support of learning;
Design and planning of learning activities/programmes of study;
Assessment and giving feedback to learners
Developing effective learning environments and learner support systems
Reflective practice and personal development

8. Two categories of membership
Membership (ILTM) for those who can cover all five areas with accreditation or three year’s experience (pro rata for part-timers)
Associateship for those with more limited breadth(2 out of 4 areas + reflection) or length of experince

9. Entry via accredited programmes
98 programmes accredited by ILT lead to direct membership, with 30+ in pipeline
Accreditation agreements with SEDA and professional bodies including UKCC, CCETSW, BPS (DipAP)
Agreement soon to be reached with GTCs

10. Initial entry route for experienced staff
Experienced staff can join by completing a reflective account supported by two referees
Account comprises 3,000 words (max) in which applicants describe not just what but how and why they do what they do
Successor route in development

11. Take up to date Approaching 12,000 applications;
Old and new universities equally represented;
Applications from colleagues across the age and seniority range;
Renewals rates very encouraging;
High recognition across the UK

12. Services to members Journal: 4 issues out, now 3 times per year
Books: Own ‘Effective learning’ series and discounts/special offers
Newsletter: regular instrument for communication
Members’ Resource Area: fortnightly updates
Members’ forums: 15 Regional and topic-specific to date, full programmes for 2002
Conferences: Annual, fully subscribed, well-regarded
Small grants scheme: 16 grants to make a difference

13. The ILT offers: Recognition of professional skills
Resources for the development of teaching and learning support
Relationships: community of teaching and learning practice
Responsibility for keeping standards in the hands of the academic/learning support community

14. Where next? Aiming to continue to maximise UK take up;
Consideration of other categories of membership
Exploration of interest in membership from outside the UK.

15. Contact me for more information
Sally Brown
Institute for Learning and Teaching
Genesis 3
Innovation Way
Science Park
York YO10 5DQ UK