Professional Recognition
The University is very proud of its teaching staff and has a number of ways to enable recognition of their teaching excellence including awards, internal promotional routes such as Associate Professor and Professorships in Learning and Teaching as well as national recognition from Advance HE as Fellows of the Higher Education Academy and National Teaching Fellowships. We draw on their expertise in many ways including their support of other staff in applying for fellowships, reviewing and critiquing teaching excellence applications, and observing colleagues’ teaching.
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Professional Recognition through Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy
The University promotes the professional recognition of colleagues’ teaching expertise through nationally recognised Advance HE fellowships of the Higher Education Academy (HEA). We can support and assess applications for all categories of HEA Fellowship via our Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Framework.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Framework
Our UH CPD Framework provides a route for experienced colleagues to gain HEA Fellowship in recognition of their teaching and support of student learning.
We offer a structure so that staff may learn, share and be acknowledged for the individual contributions they make to enhance the student experience.
The scheme is run by the Learning and Teaching Excellence team in our Centre for Education and Student Success and is accredited by Advance HE who administer the HEA fellowship scheme for the sector. The scheme is referenced to the Professional Standards Framework (PSF) and entitles individuals to post-nominal letters.
Individuals have the opportunity to gain recognition as an Associate Fellow, Fellow, Senior Fellow or Principal Fellow. This brings benefits including national recognition of your commitment to professionalism in teaching and learning, evidence that your practice is aligned with the PSF and facilitated participation in professional networks including discipline based networks.
Who can apply?
All UH colleagues and staff at UH partner Institutions with experience of teaching and/or supporting learning can apply. This includes colleagues who are professional and technical staff as well as academic colleagues. We also welcome colleagues who are already Associate Fellows or Fellows to apply for a further category in recognition of experience gained since the initial award and acknowledgment of their depth of understanding of student learning as well as their support or leadership of others in relation to teaching and learning.
What support is provided?
The CPD Framework is run by the Learning and Teaching Excellence team and is a non-taught route through which individuals develop their own application for the appropriate category of fellowship.
We run monthly workshops for staff to learn about the Framework and understand the application process. We also have a CPD Framework online handbook which provides support materials; application forms for downloading; guidance for referees and exemplars of previously successful applications, as well as submission dates.
In addition to the workshops our Learning and Teaching Excellence team hold regular writing days to enable colleagues to step away from their desks and their emails and to begin writing their application. Our team are on hand to provide immediate feedback and advice on sections of the application.
University of Hertfordshire HEA Fellows
The University has over 900 members of staff who are Fellows of the HEA and over 375 members of staff who are Associate Fellows of the HEA.
We have almost 150 Senior Fellows of the HEA, who have been recognised for their leadership/support of other staff in relation to learning and teaching.
The highest category of recognition through Advance HE is Principal Fellow of the HEA.
Twenty-six members of the university are recognised at this level:
- Prof Earle Abrahamson - Learning and Teaching Specialist, Centre for Education and Student Success
- Sara Ashencaen-Crabtree, Visiting Lecturer, Hertfordshire Business School
- Prof Helen Barefoot - Director for Education, Centre for Education and Student Success
- Dr Charmagne Barnes – Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Success)
- Marvelle Brown, Associate Professor in Learning and Teaching, School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
- Prof Penny Carey, Dean of the Schools of Law and Education
- Dr Joel Carlton, Deputy Dean, Hertfordshire Business School
- Prof Martina Doolan - Professor of Learning and Teaching, School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science
- Prof Peter D'Sena - Learning and Teaching Specialist, Centre for Education and Student Success
- Prof Suzanne Fergus – Professor in Learning and Technology Enhancement, School of Health, Medicine and Life Science
- Prof Sarah Flynn – Deputy Director for Education, Centre for Education and Student Success
- Neal Geach, Associate Professor Learning and Teaching, Centre for Education and Student Success
- Prof Frank Haddleton - Director for Academic Quality, Centre for Education and Student Success
- Dr. Barbara Henry - Associate Dean (Research and Enterprise) Schools of Law and Education
- Dr Oluyinka Idowu, Principal Lecturer, School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
- Elizabeth Kirkbride - Deputy Dean, Schools of Law and Education
- Simon O’Leary – Visiting Lecturer, Hertfordshire Business School
- Dr Julia Petty – Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer in Children's Nursing, School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
- Dr Amanda Roberts - Visiting Lecturer, School of Education
- Prof Quintin McKellar, Vice-Chancellor
- Dr. Catherine Minns Lowe - Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
- Prof Karen Mpamhanga - Principal Lecturer Collaborative Research and Development in the School of Education
- Tim Simmons – Programme Leader, School of Creative Arts
- Prof Damian Ward - Dean of Hertfordshire Business School
- Prof Mairi Watson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor
- Scarlett Xiao – Associate Professor (Learning and Teaching) and Head of Curriculum, School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science
“I had been thinking about a Principal fellowship application for a while and am so glad I made the time. The opportunity it provided for personal reflection of leading learning and teaching has been incredibly valuable and I feel so proud to have achieved this level of recognition. I would encourage everyone to apply for HEA Fellowship, at whatever category”. Penny Carey, Dean of Hertfordshire Law School
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National Teaching Fellowship
This scheme is a national award to celebrate the teaching and support learning achievements of staff who are leaders in their field. It is run by Advance HE and is designed to raise the profile of teaching and learning across HE institutions and nationally. To be awarded NTF status you must clearly demonstrate an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the on the HE teaching profession. Achieving a National Teaching Fellowship (NTFS Advance HE) is widely recognised in higher education within the UK as well as internationally as a mark of quality and award winners join a national community of like-minded professionals who are passionate about teaching excellence.
To be considered for national teaching fellowship candidates must demonstrate evidence of:
- Individual excellence: of enhancing and transforming the student experience and outcomes.
- Raising the profile of excellence: of supporting colleagues and student learning
- Developing excellence: ongoing professional development in teaching and learning
We currently have nine members of staff with this prestigious award.
- Prof Earle Abrahamson - Learning and Teaching Specialist, Centre for Education and Student Success
- Prof Guillaume Alinier – Visiting Professor of Simulation in Healthcare Education, School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
- Irene Anderson – Visiting Lecturer and Reader in Learning and Teaching in Healthcare Practice, School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
- Prof Martina Doolan - Professor of Learning and Teaching, School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science
- Prof Suzanne Fergus – Professor Learning and Technology Enhancement, School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
- Prof Joy Jarvis - Professor of Educational Practice, School of Education
- Professor Sarah Flynn – Deputy Director for Education, Centre for Education and Student Success
- Dr Julia Petty – Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer in Children's Nursing, School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
- Nina Walker – Associate Professor (Learning and Teaching), and Learning and Teaching Specialist, Centre for Education and Student Success
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Vice-Chancellor's Awards (VCAs)
The Vice-Chancellor’s Awards are the University’s prestigious annual awards to showcase and celebrate the inspiring achievements of our staff.
There are a number of categories within the awards which recognise and celebrate excellent teaching and the support of student learning, including student nominated, and staff nominated categories.
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Professorship in Learning and Teaching
Professors are defined by their distinction, standing and leadership in learning and teaching. They provide academic leadership and help to maintain and enhance the University’s reputation for teaching and learning through their contribution to collective endeavours and their own original work.
Demonstrating national leadership, with an established or developing international profile they will have achieved distinction through:
- Undertaking novel enquiry and disseminating new knowledge and/or advances in practice
- Leading projects, teams and/or scholarly communities
- Teaching, learning and professional practice
- Subject advocacy, professional networks and knowledge exchange.
The University has twelve Professors recognised for their learning and teaching/educational enhancement:
- Prof Earle Abrahamson - Professor of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, and Learning and Teaching Specialist, Centre for Education and Student Success
- Prof Helen Barefoot – Professor of Learning and Teaching, and Director for Education, Centre for Education and Student Success
- Professor Mike Callan, Professor of Judo Education, School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
- Prof Penny Carey - Professor of Legal Education, and Dean of the Schools of Law and Education
- Prof Peter D'Sena – Professor of History and Education, and Learning and Teaching Specialist, Centre for Education and Student Success
- Prof Martina Doolan - Professor of Learning and Teaching, School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science
- Prof Suzanne Fergus – Professor Learning and Technology Enhancement, School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
- Professor Sarah Flynn – Professor of Experiential Learning, and Deputy Director for Education, Centre for Education and Student Success
- Professor Theo Gilbert - Professor of Learning and Teaching, and Learning and Teaching Specialist, Centre for Education and Student Success
- Prof Frank Haddleton - Professor of Quality Enhancement, and Director for Academic Quality, Centre for Education and Student Success
- Prof Joy Jarvis - Professor of Educational Practice, School of Education
- Professor Mairi Watson - Professor of Learning and Teaching, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Dr Helen Barefoot was appointed professor in July 2020 and shared her reflections on the application process:
“I am delighted to become a Professor in Learning and Teaching. Although the process was tough, it was a very beneficial experience to reflect on, and critique, my work in order to write my application. The rigorous panel discussion enabled me to discuss the impact of my work within, and beyond, the University and I was very grateful for the positive feedback from the panel members and suggestions for future development.
I do hope that other colleagues are inspired to develop their practice and work towards associate professorship and professorship applications and be recognised for their learning and teaching excellence”.
Associate Professorship in Learning and Teaching
The title of Associate Professor is awarded in recognition of a candidate’s distinction in learning and teaching, being a leader of national standing and their direct personal guidance of students and other staff. Associate Professors in learning and teaching demonstrate their excellence according to the following criteria:
- Conduct of currency of teaching and assessment
- Reflective practice in relation to learning and teaching
- Leadership of learning and teaching
- Scholarship of learning and teaching
- Curriculum development
- Contribution to the collective good
- Academic leadership
- Collegiality/good citizenship
- Development of self and others
- Awareness of the wider context
- External roles
The university currently has 16 Associate Professors of Learning and Teaching
- David Allen – School of Education
- Rosemary Allen - School of Education
- Irene Anderson - School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
- Dr Alex Baxter – School of Creative Arts
- Dr Marvelle Brown – School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
- Dr Vince Clarke – School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
- Neal Geach – Centre for Education and Student Success
- Dr Christopher Lloyd - Centre for Education and Student Success
- Dr Julia Petty – School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
- Dr Helen Pokorny – Centre for Education and Student Success
- Dr Julia Schofield - School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
- Ken Spearpoint - School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
- Nina Walker - Centre for Education and Student Success School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
- Dr Nkiruka Umaru – School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
- Scarlett Xiao - School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science
- Amanda Yip - Centre for Education and Student Success
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Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence
The national competition for the Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE), organised by Advance HE, recognises and rewards collaborative work what has had a demonstrable impact on teaching and learning. The award highlights the key role of teamwork in higher education and celebrates outstanding collaborative working.
The annual competition invites Universities to nominate one team who can demonstrate excellence in the team’s collaborative approach and excellence in the impact of collaborative working on teaching and learning.
The University of Hertfordshire won a CATE award in 2020 for its Assessment Centre Experience Team and in 2021 for its Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Student Success working Group including our BAME Student Advocates.
