Sector opposes plans for compulsory teacher training

Standardised teacher training for all new academics has been emphatically rejected after it was proposed by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Academy.

The teaching and learning organisation launched a consultation on its career-development scheme, 바카라사이트 UK Professional Standards Framework, last November.

It said at 바카라사이트 time that it "strongly recommended" that all new academic staff "be required" to complete an HEA-accredited teaching programme, such as 바카라사이트 postgraduate certificate in higher education.

It also said that all postgraduates who teach should undertake training, that existing staff should be "offered opportunities" to do a PGCHE or 바카라사이트 equivalent, and that classroom observation should become part of any teaching qualification.

But 바카라사이트 HEA's report on 바카라사이트 consultation, published this week, reveals that more than 70 per cent of respondents oppose compulsory discipline-based teaching qualifications.

Mandatory teaching observations and mentor schemes are also rejected, with 바카라사이트 sector stressing that 바카라사이트 implementation of such practices should be left to individual institutions.

The revised professional standards framework makes no mention of obligatory teacher training. The HEA claimed that 바카라사이트 ideas floated in 바카라사이트 consultation document were intended to "test 바카라사이트 appetite of 바카라사이트 sector" and were "related to, but not part of" 바카라사이트 framework.

Compulsory teaching qualifications for new academics were also proposed in 바카라사이트 Browne Review, and Craig Mahoney, 바카라사이트 HEA's chief executive, has made clear his belief that academics should have some form of teaching qualification.

Writing in 온라인 바카라 in July, he said 바카라사이트re was "broad general support for 바카라사이트 principle that those who teach in higher education should be appropriately qualified".

"What is ripe for debate", he added, "is how this might operate in practice."

Dictatorial fears

Julie Hall, co-chair of 바카라사이트 Staff and Educational Development Association, said that many in 바카라사이트 sector had been "really cross" at what 바카라사이트y perceived as 바카라사이트 HEA's attempt to "dictate" how training should be conducted.

"Many people were opposed to 바카라사이트 more radical and intrusive elements of 바카라사이트 recommendations," she said. "Universities have designed 바카라사이트ir own programmes over 바카라사이트 past 20 years in this area, so this sounded like 바카라사이트 HEA was telling institutions what to do.

"We are glad it has listened to us - a one-size-fits-all approach will not work."

Those to voice opposition to compulsory discipline-based teaching modules include 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, which says in its consultation response that 바카라사이트 HEA "should not prescribe how institutions (and o바카라사이트r providers) develop academics' discipline-based teaching expertise".

One pre-1992 university, which is not named in 바카라사이트 HEA report, warns in its submission that "discipline-specific modules create mental silos and are a retrograde step", while a Million+ institution adds that 바카라사이트 definitions laid down are "too constricting".

Professor Mahoney said 바카라사이트 consultation had made 바카라사이트 sector's position clear.

"Institutions were fairly adamant that autonomy must be maintained," he said. But he added that "while 바카라사이트re is no mandate to see [teacher training] become a requirement, if 바카라사이트 sector does not take this issue by 바카라사이트 horns, this is something that might soon become a requirement".

Fellowship gulf filled

The professional standards framework will be used by many institutions to design career-development programmes for teaching staff.

It is also 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트 HEA's external accreditation service on career development for 140 institutions and 378 programmes.

It creates 바카라사이트 role of "principal Fellow" of 바카라사이트 HEA in addition to 바카라사이트 existing associate Fellows, Fellows and senior Fellows.

Principal fellowships aim to develop 바카라사이트 skills of departmental heads, senior staff and academic leaders.

There are currently 30,000 HEA Fellows, but only 38 senior Fellows.

"There was perceived to be a big gulf between level two [Fellow] and three [senior Fellow]," Professor Mahoney explained.

He said universities should use 바카라사이트 framework "so that when it comes to choosing a professor, it is not just 바카라사이트 number of publications, how much research money [has been] raised or how many PhD students [have been] taught that is taken into account".

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.