Background
Following a sector-wide review involving over 800 academics and higher education professionals from more than 20 countries, the revised Professional Standards Framework (PSF) was launched in 2023. The PSF is a globally recognised framework to support and accredit professional development and benchmark success in teaching and learning in higher education.
At City, there are two routes to Advance HE Fellowship, aligned with the PSF. One is via the taught pathway as part of the MA in Academic Practice programme (MAAP). Advance HE accreditation applies to the first-year modules of the programme. Successful completion of the Introductory Certificate in Academic Practice leads to Advance HE Associate Fellowship whereas students who successfully complete the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice can attain Advance HE Fellowship. The other route is through RISES, our Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme, which enables colleagues to attain Advance Fellowship at four levels: D1 Associate Fellowship; D2 Fellowship; D3 Senior Fellowship; and D4 Principal Fellowship.
What’s new in the framework?
The visual representation of the PSF below highlights the interrelationship between the different dimensions of practice and their interplay with descriptors 1 to 4.
The category descriptors remain but have been reduced to three statements. The language of some of the dimensions (see the diagram below) has been amended and others have been removed, reorganised, or readjusted. A new professional value has also been introduced: V5: “Collaborating with others to enhance practice.” “Others” here is context-dependent but can refer to collaboration with other members in or beyond your immediate team or with others external to your own local context. It may also refer to students as they work together with staff, for example, to co-create components of the curriculum or learning activities.
In particular, the revised PSF places more emphasis on the following three areas:
- The effectiveness and impact of teaching, using an evidence-based approach
- The context in which the teaching takes place. The revised PSF acknowledges the rich diversity of environments, circumstances, norms, practices, behaviours, and cultures that constitute the context that influences practice.
- Inclusivity: both from the perspective of the wider range of staff now able to engage with the PSF and how more inclusive approaches ensure all learners, feel respected, valued, and have equity in opportunity to succeed. This means reflecting on our approach to inclusivity in different areas of our professional practice including teaching and learning methodologies; use of resources; assessment and feedback strategies; and student support.
The Advance HE guidance includes the following questions to consider in relation to inclusivity:
- How do you plan accessible sessions and activities so that all learners benefit from learning sessions?
- How do you adapt your teaching approaches to different groups of learners?
- How do you build inclusivity into assessment and feedback design and practices?
- How do you adapt the support and guidance provided to support the specific needs of your learners?
To download the 2023 Professional Standards Framework, please click here.
Next steps
Arrangements are in place to support the transition from the old UKPSF to the 2023 PSF framework. Our professional development programmes have been reaccredited by Advance HE and we are running a series of workshops to support RISES applicants and mentors with the requirements of the new PSF.
More information about the MAAP can be found here. If you are interested in applying for Advance HE Fellowship via the CPD RISES route, the first step is to attend an introductory workshop: https://staffhub.city.ac.uk/lead/qualifications-accreditation/rises
If you are uncertain of the category you should apply for, the Advance HE Fellowship tool is a good starting point. The tool consists of a set of statements that relate to the dimensions and descriptors of the PSF. Your responses will help to determine which is the most appropriate category of Fellowship for you in relation to your professional practice.
Final thoughts
With the 2023 PSF’s renewed emphasis on inclusivity, collaboration and effective practice, what impact, if any, does this have on our academic and professional practices? We’d love to hear your thoughts and about how best LEaD can support you.
