Responding to change in higher education

Introduction

This named award is slightly different to the other awards available through SEDA’s Professional Development Framework. Normally the awards address specific roles or functions; however this award has been established to accommodate professional development of all staff through engagement with the various themes and/or agendas affecting change in higher education. Responding to change could include engagement with issues of internationalisation globalisation, diversity, employability, the impact of communications and learning technologies or the changing nature of higher education in the UK and abroad. The specialist learning outcomes for this award are generic to enable individual institutions to develop programmes to meet specific development needs to enhance the student experience.

Aims

The aim of these types of programmes is to raise awareness and to encourage engagement with and discussion of the rationales or drivers underpinning the theme or agenda under consideration. It is anticipated that individuals will examine the impact of change on the student experience and undertake developmental activities to effect change appropriate to their work practice.

Audience

Since the themes or agendas driving change influence all areas of practice in higher education this named award is open to any member of staff.

Values

Award recipients will have shown how their work is informed by the SEDA Values:

1. Developing understanding of how people learn
2. Practicing in ways that are scholarly, professional and ethical
3. Working with and developing learning communities
4. Valuing diversity and promoting inclusivity
5. Continually reflecting on practice to develop ourselves, others and processes.

Core development outcomes

Award recipients will be able to:

1. Identify their own professional development goals, directions or priorities
2. Plan for their initial and/or continuing professional development
3. Undertake appropriate development activities
4. Review their development and practice, and the relations between them.

Specialist outcomes

Additionally award recipients will be able to:

1. Identify the drivers underpinning the element of change being considered and explore the impact on the student experience
2. Consider how they and their institution should respond to change in order to contribute to an enhanced student experience
3. Reflect on how they are implementing and developing their practice in light of the needs and challenges arising from change
4. Evaluate their effectiveness and contribution to the student experience within the context of this change

An example of a programme that could be accredited under this award

Since the participation of all staff working in the sector is required to achieve internationalisation of the higher education experience and the curriculum, the change in this instance would be internationalisation. A programme accredited under this award would provide opportunities for individuals to explore the forces underpinning the internationalisation agenda and empower staff to contribute to an internationalised student experience.

Thus, the specialist learning outcomes could translate as follows:

1. Identify the economic, social, political and environmental forces operating in a global society and explore the impact on the student experience
2. Consider how they and their institution should respond to issues of internationalisation to contribute to an enhanced student experience
3. Reflect on how they are implementing and developing their practice to address aspects of internationalisation
4. Evaluate their effectiveness and contribution to the student experience as part of an internationalised institution.

Named award co-ordinators

Lynnette Matthews: lm124@le.ac.uk
Roisín Curran: r.curran@ulster.ac.uk