Communities of Practice

Communities of Practice (CoP) projects and extended activities enable our staff to share experiences and develop networks for continued collaboration and partnerships. Predicated on three main characteristics described below, we use our communities of practice to build networks with partners internal and external to the University

Domain: Our community members have a shared domain of interest, competence and commitment that distinguishes them from others. This shared domain creates common ground, inspires members to participate, guides their learning, and gives meaning to their actions.
Community: Our members pursue this interest through joint activities, discussions, problem-solving opportunities, information sharing and relationship building. The notion of a community creates the social fabric for enabling collective learning. A strong community fosters interaction and encourages a willingness to share ideas.
Practice: Our community members are actual practitioners in this domain of interest and build a shared repertoire of resources and ideas that they take back to their practice. While the domain provides the general area of interest for the community, the practice is the specific focus around which the community develops, shares and maintains its core of collective knowledge

In our CoP we connect our research, scholarship and networks through inclusive and innovative ways that inspire conversations in learning and teaching. Further information on our research enterprise activities can be found under the Research and Scholarship section This section focuses on the following CoP projects:

Pedagogic / Educational Research Network
The Pedagogic / Educational Research Network is a forum for connecting colleagues involved in research and scholarship in the field of education. Its aim is to raise the profile and visibility of work in this area within UH, to share information about what is happening within the University and the field in general, and to provide opportunities for collaboration. The network serves as a forum to explore key issues and dilemmas that challenge educational and pedagogical research.
Meetings are arranged 6 times a year to share insights into topics such as research methods as well as ongoing and completed research. Most sessions involve disseminating knowledge within the network, although external speakers are sometimes asked to contribute.
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Group (I-SEEC)
The Inclusive SoTL Educational Enterprise Collective is a staff student collaborative group that works to promote the value of using SoTL as a framework for pedagogical change. The group was developed within our PG programme for staff new to Higher Education teaching. Within the module students (new to teaching in HE) were exposed to the principles and ideologies of SoTL. As a vehicle of continuing important conversations in learning and teaching and connecting our staff and students with international scholars in the field, I-SEEC operates to co-create a community of shared practice. Within the group participants explore connections within and between the disciplines, engage in debates with scholars, and explore how the five pillars of SoTL (Felten, 2013) are used within academic practice. Meetings are held every 6-8 weeks wherein external speakers are invited to contribute to discussions. The group further produces and promotes scholarly outputs such as articles, vlogs and blogs which are often published in our in-house (BLiP and Link) and connected journals (Journal of Impact Cultures (JIC) and Teaching and Learning Inquiry (TLI).
Student Staff Partnership Network
The Student Staff Partnership (SSP) Network brings together people who are committed to embedding partnership in all aspects of learning, within and beyond the curriculum. Our Partnership work aims to dismantle the traditional approach to teaching and learning, enabling a more collaborative approach with shared power and contributions. Members share good practice and examples of Partnership, building a collaborative community across the University.
Talking Teaching
This group provides a space for conversation around topical learning and teaching themes, in an informal setting. It is open to all members of the university who are interested in discussion, facilitated by the Learning and Teaching Innovation Centre but with conversations usually started between colleagues from one or more of our academic schools. Any member of the group can propose a topic, which can range from the practical to the philosophical and discussions are typically summarised and posted to the wider community via the Centre’s social media accounts. The Talking Teaching group meets online, monthly.
Teaching Excellence Recognition Network
This is our network for colleagues who hold a recognition award in relation to their teaching excellence; these may be our Professors and Associate Professor who have been awarded through the learning and teaching route, or those whose recognition comes from Advance HE as a Senior Fellow, Principal Fellow, National Teaching Fellow or from a Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence. Its purpose is to provide support and guidance for other staff applying for recognition, to support Advance HE accredited provision, and to be a consulting group for Institutional policy and practice associated with learning and teaching, It is led by the Director of Learning and Teaching and meets biannually.
Apprenticeship Quality, Learning and Teaching Forum
This group serves as a proactive forum for exchanging experiences, responding to queries and sharing good practice. It acts as a support mechanism for academic and professional colleagues working on higher and degree apprenticeships. It is open to anyone involved in delivering of apprenticeships, from academic, technical, and professional areas; including but not limited to programme leaders, module staff, employer liaison tutors, appropriate colleagues from central services. It acts as a network across the University, focusing on the continuous improvement of the apprenticeship experience for all, providing an environment of shared learning and development, with and from each other both within and outside the Forum.