University's first Principal Fellows of the HEA

Tuesday, 18 June 2013

Dr Paddy Woodman, Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) for FAHSS and Professor Julian Park, Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) for Life Sciences

Dr Paddy Woodman, Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) for FAHSS and Professor Julian Park, Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) for Life Sciences have been recognised individually as the University's first Principal Fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA).

Principal Fellowship of the HEA is the highest level of recognition under the Higher Education UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) and is only awarded to staff who demonstrate considerable achievement in strategic leadership in teaching and learning within their institutions and beyond.

Both Dr Woodman and Professor Park were encouraged to apply for Principal Fellow status as part of their professional development. Dr Woodman said: "when drafting my application I reflected on how I go about my role and what principles drive my actions. In the busy day-to-day existence, it can be difficult to find an opportunity to do this normally, but I when I took the time I actually found it most enlightening. It helped me to think about whether I was placing the right focus on different aspects of my role and I learnt a lot about myself in the process". 

The award of these Principal Fellowships fits with the broader desire of the University to encourage and support all staff who have a teaching and learning role to gain recognition within the UKPSF as a mechanism for further developing their own approach to teaching and learning and to enhance the Reading student experience.

The University is applying to the HEA to become an accrediting body for the UKPSF, the aim is to have an in-house accredited route for experienced staff to gain recognition by the start of 2014.

Professor Gavin Brooks, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) commented: "The University is delighted to have Paddy and Julian as its first Principal Fellows of the HEA. At a time of increasing competition for students, it is vital that the University increases the number of teaching and learning staff with HEA accreditation as this is likely to be used as an indicator of teaching excellence within an institution in the future.

"I hope that Paddy's and Julian's success will encourage all staff who have a teaching and learning element as a part of their role to seek recognition under the UK Professional Standards Framework either via direct application to the HEA, or via our own CPD scheme once it is in place."