1. The UK Professional Standards Framework
for teaching and supporting learning
in higher education
2. What is the framework?
It provides a means to comprehensively recognise and benchmark
teaching and learning support roles within HE.
It describes the main dimensions of the roles of teaching and
supporting learning within the HE environment.
From the perspective of the practitioner.
3. What are the framework’s main components?
The descriptors
The dimensions of practice
4. What are the dimensions of practice?
A set of statements outlining the:
Areas of Activity undertaken by teachers and supporters of
learning within HE
Core Knowledge that is needed to carry out those activities
at the appropriate level
Professional Values that someone performing these activities
should embrace and exemplify
5. What are the descriptors?
Short statements
Outlining the key characteristics…
Of someone performing four broad
categories of typical teaching and learning
support roles within Higher Education.
6. How has the framework changed?
Refined and improved
Descriptor 3 revised to facilitate recognition of
Senior Fellows
Descriptor 4 added, which corresponds to
Principal Fellow
7. Who does it belong to?
Developed by the Academy
On behalf of the sector
It is the property of all those with a direct
interest in the Higher Education sector
8. What is the Academy’s role?
The Academy provides:
Recognition as an Associate Fellow,
Fellow, Senior Fellow and Principal Fellow
An accreditation service for educational
development programmes and schemes
9. You can use the framework to:
Gain recognition for your own teaching and
learning support activities
Plan and guide your own Continuing
Professional Development in the area of
teaching and learning
Promote the professionalisation of teaching
and learning support within Higher Education
10. And you can use it to:
Foster creative and innovative approaches to teaching
and learning
Enable staff to gain recognition and reward for developing
their capabilities as teachers and supporters of learning
Gain Academy accreditation for education development
programmes and schemes
11. And you can use it to:
Enhance the quality and prominence of teaching and
learning activities
Facilitate and support the design and delivery of
initial and continuing education development
programmes and activities
Demonstrate to students and other stakeholders the
professionalism that staff and institutions brings to
teaching and support for student learning
12. And you can use it to!
Develop policies and systems for the
recognition and reward of teaching and
learning support staff
Promote a strong culture of teaching and
learning support
13. To find out more
About the Framework
http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/ukpsf
About the Fellowship scheme
http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/professional-
recognition
About Accreditation
http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/accreditation