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UEL Teaching Fellowship Scheme

UEL Teaching Fellowship Scheme: 2013 Award

Context and Background

We wish to recognise and reward excellence in teaching and the support of learning and to encourage colleagues to share effective practice in this regard within our institution and across the sector. A Teaching Fellowship Scheme for our University provides both the recognition of excellence in teaching and support for learning, and the standards for excellence by which we would wish to assess teaching performance.

Since inception in 2005, our UEL teaching fellowship scheme is reviewed annually to reflect that of the Higher Education Academy National Teaching Fellowship Scheme.

The old assumption that ‘if colleagues know their subject they can teach it’ is now past. Teaching has a professional status, as evidenced by the Professional Standards Framework launched in 2006 and developed by the Higher Education Academy, Universities UK, the Standing Conference of Principals and the four funding councils. Professional status must have an identifiable development process that can lead to excellence. Our Teaching Fellowship Scheme will reward an exceptional contribution made to student learning by both colleagues in Academic Schools and those from Services. Reward in the areas of research and knowledge transfer is based on a peer review of published work or business outcome and it is appropriate to have equal status for performance in another of our University’s key activities – that of teaching and facilitating learning.

We believe that excellence in teaching is exemplified by a set of values and behaviours that are enshrined in the criteria that we will use for selection of our Teaching Fellows.

The following sections set out the conferment process for a Teaching Fellowship, the selection criteria and the responsibilities of a Teaching Fellow.

A single conferment process for which academic and support staff can make Claims

In keeping with the HEA’s current NTFS, we are keen that our Fellowship Scheme embraces “the full diversity of professional roles and experience which support the student learning experience” (HEA, 2007). The application process is open to all* colleagues who are fellows of the Higher Education Academy with a role in teaching and supporting learning. The following outlines the basis of the scheme:

  • The scheme is open to all* colleagues who have a role in teaching and supporting learning, i.e. both academic and support staff, full and part-time
  • There is no minimum requirement measured by  years of experience
  • Each Fellowship award will be for two years duration
  • All successful Teaching Fellows must agree to comply with the ‘Responsibilities of Teaching Fellows’ (see below)
  • Nominees are required to make an individual Claim (see below)
  • A Teaching Fellowship Award confers the title of UEL Teaching Fellow and an individual financial award of £5000 is provided to the individual, to support his/her personal, professional and pedagogic development. This year, a maximum of 3 awards of £5000 will be made.

* Please note that the UEL TF scheme is open to all colleagues who hold a full time or part time employment contract with UEL and have worked at UEL for a minimum of one year's duration.

Introduction to the process for making a Claim for 2013

We are pleased to announce the process by which any colleague in Schools or Services who either teaches and/or supports the learning of our students can become a UEL Teaching Fellow.

A selection panel will consider the evidence provided in support of Claims. Our Fellowships will be conferred on the recommendation of that selection panel.

Our concept of excellence is based on the demonstration of a set of values that underpin the criteria and which lead to an excellent learning experience and achievement of learning outcomes for our students. The criteria and some examples of appropriate types of evidence are provided in the Appendix.

Hourly paid colleagues who are interested in the UEL Teaching Fellowship Scheme must contact either the Director of Academic Practice and Student Experience (Julie Baldry Currens: ext. 2258; julie6@uel.ac.uk) or the Learning and Teaching Committee Servicing Officer (Dallas Davis: ext. 2008; dallas2@uel.ac.uk) before preparing for their claim.  Each claim will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The process

The process is as follows:

  • Colleagues may nominate themselves or other colleagues
  • Each nominee (with the help of colleagues who have nominated them, if this is the case) will make a Claim for a Fellowship by drawing on evidence from their own practice. This might include peer support, student feedback or commendations and academic management successes. See ‘Making a Claim’ below for further details of the Claim
  • A panel will consider the Claims and may ask for further supporting evidence
  • All Claimants will receive feedback on their application.

The panel will comprise

  • The Deputy Vice Chancellor
  • The Director of Academic Practice & Student Experience
  • Two Leaders in Learning and Teaching
  • One Dean of School/Director of Service
  • A National Teaching Fellow and/or a UEL Teaching Fellow
  • An External Assessor (an external member who is either a National Teaching Fellow or leads the operation of a Fellowship Scheme at another university).

Staff development will be provided on request or through School discussion sessions organised by LILTs for those interested in making a Claim and feedback will be provided to those who are unsuccessful.

How may I be nominated for a Fellowship?

Nominations should be made to The Director of Academic Practice and Student Experience (APSE) and can be made by you, your colleagues or students. There is no limit to nominations from each School or Service and we will keep a record of all nominations. If nominated, you must then decide if you wish to progress to making a Claim and you may wish to consult more widely since you will need to collect and present the evidence for your Claim.

Making a claim

All Claims for a Teaching Fellowship should be supported by a reasoned argument citing appropriate evidence throughout the Claim, to support your excellence in demonstrating achievement of the criteria. The Claim must include ALL of the following:

  • a Personal Statement which must demonstrate excellence in all three criteria using no more than 5000 words* (see below)
  • a List of the Supporting Evidence quoted in the Personal Statement, and must be able to produce the evidence they quote should the panel request it (see below) (no more than 2 sides of A4)
  • a Financial Proposal identifying how the £5000 award will be spent (no more than 2 sides of A4).  This must include a proposal, outlining how you intend to spend your award and the associated deliverables (full details are provided below).
  • a brief cv (no more than 3 sides of A4)*
  • a Cover Sheet which includes signatures by the Leader in Learning and Teaching or another member of the School/Service Learning and Teaching Committee and by the Dean of School or Director of Service (see below)

* all Claims must be word processed, and presented as a Word Document, A4 with an Arial 11pt font size, 2cm margins and 1.5 line spacing.

Which Criteria should the Personal Statement address?

In keeping with the HEA NTFS, the criteria for excellence are as follows:

Criterion 1. INDIVIDUAL EXCELLENCE

Evidence of promoting and enhancing the student learning experience by:

  • arousing curiosity to stimulate and inspire learning
  • organising and presenting resources cogently and imaginatively
  • recognising and supporting diversity of student learning needs
  • drawing upon the results of the relevant research, scholarship and professional practice, including from the established literature of your own evidence base

Criterion 2. RAISING the PROFILE of EXCELLENCE

Evidence of supporting colleagues and influencing support for student learning in (and if appropriate beyond) our institution, through demonstrating impact and engagement beyond your immediate academic or professional role by:

  • contributing to the development of colleagues to promote student learning
  • contributing to departmental/ faculty / institutional / national initiatives to facilitate student learning

Criterion 3. DEVELOPING EXCELLENCE

Commitment to your ongoing professional development with regard to teaching and learning by:

  • ongoing review and enhancement of individual practice, including professional development activities
  • evidence of improvements to the student learning experience resulting from engagement in review and enhancement of individual practice

What must I submit in my list of supporting evidence?

Evidence may come from a number of sources including reviews of teaching or learning materials, teaching or learning schemes or support strategies, peer reviews and observations, student feedback, commendations e.g. from external examiners, institutional, regional or national colleagues. It should not include references collected for the purpose. With this exception, the type of evidence is not prescribed in any way but should be evaluative rather than descriptive and include reflection on your practice, responses to feedback and planned actions. Please note that the examples of evidence quoted above are by no means prescriptive or exhaustive as they will be different for each colleague.

A list of the main items of evidence should accompany the Claim and the panel may request some items for confirmation. You should not include these items with your application.

What must I submit in my proposed financial statement?

In a manner similar to that of the HEA NTFS, UEL is offering an award of £5000 to successful UEL Teaching Fellows. The award is provided to the individual, to support his/her personal, professional and pedagogic development. As part of the Teaching Fellowship Application, you are required to produce a proposal which will outline how you intend to spend your award (within the 1 year period of the financial award) and the associated deliverables which will be in keeping with the broad themes of Transformation for Excellence.

In identifying how you will spend your award, you must provide a reasoned explanation of how the activities undertaken as part ofscholarly activity / project / research / personal development are in keeping with Transformation for Excellence.

The list below offers some examples of how the award may be spent (the list is not exhaustive; alternatives not listed may not be precluded, providing a reasoned justification is provided and accepted):

  • Buying out of Teaching Fellows’ time (All costs will be in accordance with standard pay scales: http://www.uel.ac.uk/hrservices/payroll/index.htm#payscales
  • Buying in of expertise (e.g. consultants)
  • Appointment of assistants (e.g. research assistant or clerical assistant)
  • Paying for travel to national and international events including conferences
  • Course fees and/or conference registration fees that would not otherwise be covered by staff development
  • Travel (e.g. to conferences for dissemination or to other institutions for research.
  • Subsistence (e.g. refreshments for an event or appropriate expenses during travel)
  • Consumables (e.g. books, stationery and small ad hoc items)
  • Purchasing IT Equipment and Hardware (e.g. I pads, Mac books, laptops, e-readers and kindles) providing consideration is given to maintenance and upkeep, including any requirements that may extend beyond the life of the TF award.
  • Purchasing software - please ensure that all implications e.g. license, long term funding and support, programme compatibility, etc., have been discussed with IT, and Dean of your School/Director of Service, and attach evidence supporting their approval.
  • Scholarly, developmental and/or research projects that explore issues related to aspects of learning, teaching and assessment (provide an outline of the purpose, methodology and anticipated outcomes, remembering that if approved, all usual expectations of a project including ethical approval will need to be subsequently undertaken).

Your Financial Statement must explain and justify your reasoning for the expenditure, and demonstrate that you have considered ALL relevant issues involved: e.g. if software is to be purchased, consideration must be given to both its compatibility with UEL systems and to the cost of any license continuation (additional funding will not be available to support this); consideration of the need for ethical approval for project outlines should be indicated etc.

Buying out of staff time and the appointment of assistants will attract employer’s on-costs of national insurance & possibly superannuation contributions. An estimate of costs can be obtained from Jasmine Allen in Financial Services – Extn 2336.

Please note that all equipment purchased will remain the property of UEL should the individual leave the Institution, though may be identified for sole use of the Teaching Fellow whilst a UEL employee, should this be appropriate. 

It is also the responsibility of the Teaching Fellow and that of their School/Service, to code expenditure correctly and to ensure that there is no overspend as any expenditure over & above the allocation will be charged to the Teaching Fellow’s School/Service. In addition, the award must be spent in full by 31st July 2014, as there is no facility to carry over any surplus funds.

The feasibility of the Financial Statement MUST be agreed by your Dean of School, and a signature on the Cover Sheet will confirm this.

How will my claim be evaluated by the panel?

The panel, the constitution of which is indicated above, will score the Claim against each criterion. If the panel feel an award may be possible, the Claim will be reviewed by an external panel member appointed by our University and the nominee may be invited to attend an interview. The panel reserve the right to investigate the evidence further or to ask for additional evidence.

The purpose of an interview would be to:

  • query issues still outstanding from the written Claim;
  • take full account of the School or Service view of your application;
  • probe your potential to assist and lead your colleagues in developing their learning and teaching practice and values.

Fellowships will normally only be awarded to colleagues who evidence excellence in all criteria.

The decision of the panel will be final.

What are the additional benefits of making a Claim?

Making a Claim for a Teaching Fellowship does involve some effort to organise the Claim and identify the evidence. However once the Claim and evidence have been identified, you will be able to build upon it to form a more generic portfolio of evidence and use it for other purposes such as Continuing Professional Development, contribution to demonstration of Professional Standards and for positive discussion at your Staff Development and Review meetings.

What support is available for the process?

Question and answer sessions for interested colleagues can be arranged on request.

Advice can be obtained from:

What would I have to do as a Teaching Fellow?

UEL Teaching Fellows will have responsibility for undertaking leadership roles in Learning and Teaching, disseminating your good practice and supporting colleagues in developing their professional practice. You would be required to:

  • Engage in further evaluation and dissemination activities to ensure that the reasons for your excellence are clearly promulgated and shared as exemplars to colleagues within your School or Service and across UEL, including presentations at UEL’s Learning and Teaching Conference, for example
  • Work together to share good practice and cross-fertilisation of ideas
  • Work with your LILT to ensure maximum contribution to the School or Service staff development programme in Learning and Teaching

On completion of the year of your award allocation, produce a report of your activities as a Teaching Fellow, including an explanation and summary of your financial expenditure.  This report will be required by the end of the March in the relevant year. Teaching Fellows will be supported towards submitting a proposal to become one of our UEL nominations for a National Teaching Fellowship and/or for promotion to Reader or Professor on the basis of excellence in teaching as part of their case.

Evaluation of the Scheme

We will continue to seek feedback from colleagues who have made a Claim with respect to the process and we will review the process in the light of the comments, with the intention of seeking to improve it.

The Learning and Teaching Committee will evaluate the selection process, the effectiveness of Teaching Fellowships on student learning, staff motivation and commitment to Scholarship in Learning and Teaching at School and institutional levels.

Acknowledgement

Colleagues at DeMontfort University are acknowledged for providing us with details of their Teacher Fellow Scheme upon which elements of our Scheme were initially based (2005), and also the HEA for providing the basis for the revisions to our current scheme.

References

Higher Education Academy National Teaching Fellowship Scheme

Download UEL Teaching Fellowship Scheme Claim Form

 

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