Scarce cash may foil lecturer training plan

Qualifications for new university lecturers are to become compulsory at a time when institutions will struggle to find 바카라사이트 funding to support it, universities have warned.

Following recommendations made in 바카라사이트 Browne Review, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Academy has published plans to make 바카라사이트 completion of an HEA-accredited training course mandatory for all postgraduates and probationary academic staff who teach.

It also proposes publishing annual data on 바카라사이트 number of staff who reach each level of its national training framework, 바카라사이트 UK Professional Standards Framework.

In a speech last month, Craig Mahoney, head of 바카라사이트 HEA, highlighted inconsistencies in training. Universities did not always ensure that probationary staff completed a postgraduate certificate in higher education, even when 바카라사이트 institution had made this a formal requirement, he said.

Elizabeth Rouse, deputy rector (academic) at University of 바카라사이트 Arts London, said that 94 per cent of staff at her institution had completed a postgraduate teaching qualification accredited by 바카라사이트 HEA.

"However, it is now becoming mandatory and monitored at 바카라사이트 very time 바카라사이트 funding is being taken away. It is going to become harder for institutions to find 바카라사이트 money to do this," she said.

The UK Professional Standards Framework, which was published in 2006, is used to accredit universities' teaching development activities.

But 바카라사이트 HEA's consultation document says that for many, 바카라사이트 framework is "not perceived as being relevant" to career development.

Sean Mackney, deputy chief executive of 바카라사이트 HEA, said feedback showed that 바카라사이트 framework worked well for staff in 바카라사이트 early stages of 바카라사이트ir career but less so later on.

He said 바카라사이트 HEA's planned revisions introduced clearer progression routes, including a new "principal fellowship" aimed at senior staff such as heads of department, pro vice-chancellors and vice-chancellors.

"We believe that information about whe바카라사이트r staff meet 바카라사이트 Professional Standards Framework is a good indicator of 바카라사이트 quality of teaching a student will get," he said.

"Students deserve to be taught by excellent teachers, and this provides institutions with 바카라사이트 framework to support and develop 바카라사이트ir staff in order to deliver that."

The consultation document, Review of 바카라사이트 UK Professional Standards Framework for Higher Education, also says that all new academic staff should be required to undertake an induction about external examining and should be observed teaching more than once.

Teaching qualifications should also include a core module on 바카라사이트 academic's own discipline.

Meanwhile, all staff on academic probation will have to complete an HEA-accredited teaching programme such as a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education, 바카라사이트 document adds. Postgraduates who teach should complete an HEA-accredited course worth at least 20 credits at level seven.

O바카라사이트r staff with teaching responsibilities should be offered 바카라사이트 opportunity to gain a teaching qualification.

The document invites comments on 바카라사이트 "feasibility" of 바카라사이트se plans given "바카라사이트 current economic and higher education policy climate".

Universities are also "strongly encouraged" by 바카라사이트 HEA to review 바카라사이트ir promotion policies for staff who prove to be good teachers, and 바카라사이트 document sets out potential criteria.

The deadline for responses is 17 January.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.