We’re continuing to measure the impact that HEA Fellowship has on teaching practices, on students and on the practices and approaches of peers. We’ve also asked for some suggestions when teaching/supporting learning online!
Fellowship isn’t however restricted to just academic staff who teach. A range of professional services staff who also support learning have this recognition and we feature one of these in this month’s blogpost.
“The Senior Fellowship to me was about leadership within teaching. It enables you to review what has worked well, but more importantly to look forward as a leader as to what your subject area needs and how you can implement this”
My Background
I am Gareth Hill, a Careers Consultant in the Swansea Employability Academy. I have been teaching at Swansea University for nearly 10 years.
Gaining HEA Senior Fellowship
Within our team we teach and support academics in embedding within the curriculum. I felt it was important that my work should align to the same framework as that of academics. Senior Fellowship provided me with the opportunity to review my own work, and to understand better how employability could be embedded throughout the University.
Returning to Face-to-Face Teaching
As we return to face-to-face teaching within SEA we are using our online Careers Development Course as a flipped learning tool. This involves students completing work prior to the sessions which will be more workshop focussed. Sessions will be based around student discussions and completion of tasks, which could for example help them to prepare for effective applications.
Continuing to apply the UKPSF standards in your practice
The framework informed the development of the team’s ‘Career Development Course’ which was a massive help over the past 2 years of Covid and online teaching/learning. One of the questions that the past few years raises is about the effectiveness of online learning and what steps we can take as teachers to make this more effective and encourage greater engagement in these sessions.
I have also reflected upon my need to undertake regular CPD and network effectively to share best practice with colleagues from other Universities. I have done this mainly through my involvement in working groups as part of AGCAS (Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services).
Words of encouragement to apply for Senior Fellowship
The Senior Fellowship to me was about leadership within teaching. It enables you to review what has worked well, but more importantly to look forward as a leader as to what your subject area needs and how you can implement this. It provides you with a framework and a space to enable this to happen.
I found the learning experience valuable in itself. It is also helpful in applying for other roles as evidence of your leadership within teaching.
Top Tips for applying for Senior Fellowship
- Set aside an amount of time that is dedicated to working on your application.
- Go into the experience with a curious attitude. This will allow you to find out what can be done better in your subject area.
- Discuss your application with others in your department and listen to their experience of working on their Senior Fellowship Application.
For Further Details
Visit SALT’s webpages for details of the internally accredited programme leading to Associate, Fellow or Senior Fellow and for links to Principal Fellow resources.
