The Higher Education Academy an introduction

1
The Higher Education Academy- an introduction
Alastair Robertson Senior Adviser,
Scotland Presentation at University of Edinburgh
5 June 2007
2
Ice-breaker

• Who here today has heard of the Higher Education
  Academy?

3
Introduction

• Founded in May 2004, we are an independent
  organisation funded by grants from the four UK
  funding bodies, subscriptions from higher
  education institutions, and grant and contract
  income for specific initiatives.
• We engage in a wide variety of activities to
  support our mission and deliver our strategic
  aims and objectives.

4
Our mission

• Our mission is to help institution, discipline
  groups and all staff to provide the best possible
  learning experience for their students.

5
Institutional Development Support
Student Support
Curriculum Develop- ment
SLE
Learning, Teaching Assessment
Professional Development Recognition
6
UK-wide activities

• Subject Network
• Practitioner networks
• Consultancy and advisory services
• CPD Framework
• Registration Accreditation

• Information and resources
• Research and development projects
• Publications
• Web-based resources
• Conferences events
• Working groups

7
Influence Policy

• UK Professional Standards Framework Feb 2006

• Influence on RAE assessment of pedagogical
  research
• NSS and student experience shaping the next
  steps
• Teaching and research policy issues and research
  councils
• Employer engagement
• Partner of the HE Quality Working Group and Joint
  Quality Review Group (Scotland)

8
Institutional Support and Engagement

• HEI Liaison Scheme
• Network of Deputy and Pro-Vice-Chancellors and
  Vice-Principals
• Change Academy
• Support for specific groups (i.e. external
  examiners, PDP, E-learning, part-time staff,
  quality management and employability)
• Senior Associates- consultancy-type support for
  individual HEIs
• Research literature reviews and surveys e.g.
  PGRes Student Experience
• Continuing professional development support and
  Accreditation of institutional programmes e.g.
  Professional Certificate in University Teaching
  at Uni of Edinburgh

9
Support for individuals

• Professional development
• Accredited programmes
• New National Professional Recognition Scheme
• SNAS
• CPD
• Subject Network
• Department-level support
• Discipline communities and special interest
  groups

10
Subject Network

• Art, Design and Media (ADM)
• Bioscience
• Built Environment (CEBE)
• Business, Management, Accountancy and
  Finance (BMAF)
• Economics
• Education (ESCALATE)
• Engineering
• English
• Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
  (GEES)
• Health Sciences and Practice
• History, Classics and Archaeology (HCA)
• Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism (HLST)
• Information and Computer Sciences (ICS)
• Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies (LLAS)
• Law (UK Centre for Legal Education - UKCLE)
• Materials (UK Centre for Materials Education)
• Maths, Stats  OR Network (MSOR)
• Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine
  (MEDEV)
• PALATINE - Dance, Drama and Music

11
Disciplines and subjects examples of engagement

• Subject-specific information and resources
  (databases, knowledge banks, case studies,
  question banks, journals and guides)
• Events, departmental workshops, teaching and
  student awards
• Brokerage and collaboration activities include
  mini-project funding, establishing partnerships
  and special interest groups
• Interdisciplinary collaborations address mutual
  concerns
• Subject specific support for assessment,
  e-learning, employability and enterprise
• Help subject communities respond to the
  challenges posed by emerging policy issues
• Departmental Subject Centre contacts at
  Edinburgh.

12
Research projects
Literature reviews
Surveys
Slide 6
13
Developing a distinctive approach to the
Academys work in Scotland

• Policy divergence between Scotland and other
  parts of UK
• UK-wide versus Scottish-specific balance
• Central Academy and SCs- closer integration
• Partnership working
• July 2006 paper to Academys Board
• Academy Scotland
• New A5 leaflet

www.heacademy.ac.uk/scotland.htm scotland_at_heacadem
y.ac.uk
14
Resources web site
www.heacademy.ac.uk
15
Useful Links

• Main website
• www.heacademy.ac.uk
• National Recognition Scheme
• http//www.heacademy.ac.uk/ProfessionalRecognition
  .htm
• Supporting New Academic Staff
• http//www.heacademy.ac.uk/SNAS.htm
• Subject Network
• http//www.heacademy.ac.uk/SubjectNetwork.htm
• Thematic resources
• http//www.heacademy.ac.uk/44.htm
• Events page
• http//www.heacademy.ac.uk/events/List.htm
• Academy Scotland
• http//www.heacademy.ac.uk/scotland.htm