Developing a distinctive approach to the Academy’s work in Scotland
Alastair RobertsonSenior Adviser, Scotland
Presentation at University of Stirling,
14 November 2006
Outline of talk
• Background to the meeting• Purpose of the meeting and intended outcomes• Developing a distinctive approach• Discussion
Engaging with Scottish HEIs and policy agenda- Purposes
– To highlight range of activities SCs and central Academy colleagues are currently engaged in;
– To hear from Scottish colleagues about what the kind of support they would welcome from SCs;
– To share current SC strategies and practices with the view to further supporting SCs wishing to expand their roles;
– To discuss issues surrounding staff engagement, in general;
– To provide a networking opportunity.
Engaging with Scottish HEIs and policy agenda- Intended outcomes
– New collaborations – Develop positive action plans (individual /
collective?)– Strengthen relationships with the Scottish sector– Contribute to and potentially influence future
policy-level discussions…– Written report for all SC colleagues and SHEEC.
Developing a distinctive approach to the Academy’s work in Scotland
– Policy divergence between Scotland and other parts of UK
– UK-wide versus Scottish-specific balance– Central Academy and SCs- closer integration– July 2006 paper to Academy’s Board
Scottish Funding Council 2006-07 Grant Letter• £2.012M
• UK-wide priorities:– “…certain key themes, including employability, flexible delivery, quality
enhancement of the student learning experience, social inclusion and widening participation (WP), will be stable long-term priorities across the UK…”
– Professional Teaching Standards; Burgess Group; Strengthening the external examiner system; Research and evaluation resources; Skills; Workplace learning; Student feedback and Teaching Quality Information (TQI); Sustainable development; Health of the disciplines; International dimension.
• Scottish-specific priorities– “…The key priority for SFC is for the Academy to match its support and services
to the distinctive quality enhancement arrangements which are in place in Scotland…”
– support for the embedding of enhancement themes in mainstream practice;– engagement of subject centres in enhancement themes.
“Academy Scotland”
• 1 Senior Adviser, 0.4 Senior Associate, 1 Project Officer, 0.4 Administrator
• Co-located with Universities Scotland, Edinburgh• Subject Centres (main site, partner sites, country coordinators, key
contacts)• Partner of the overarching Quality Working Group• Representation on national HE L+T Committees incl. SHEEC• HEI Liaison Scheme• Quarterly Newsletter• Sounding Board• Policy Developments Briefing (issue 1 due out December 2006)• Emphases on individual practitioners, institutions and national
policy.
www.heacademy.ac.uk/scotland.htm
The 2005-06 Institutional Liaison Scheme: Subject Centres- Perceptions
•Academy Scotland: Enhancement and Engagement, 24 May 2007, Stirling
• Current engagement:• Good 12%• Reasonable 23.5%• Mixed/variable 47%• Minimal 18%
• Need for greater connectivity between central Academy and Subject Centres and Institutions
• SCs generally recognised as key for increased buy-in and engagement from Academic staff
The Academy in Scotland- 2006/07 Strategic Priorities (Board paper)
• Joining up at policy, institutional and individual levels. To deliver a coherent package of support to the Scottish sector and contribute to the development of the QEF.
• Practical “how to” support for individual institutions in areas identified by them in relation to L, T and A strategies and other aspects of the student learning experience.
• A greater focus on supporting the professional development of individual staff. Through the Subject Centres, accreditation activities and national recognition of individuals’ commitment to learning and teaching via an inclusive approach.
• Increasing work with students including collaborative activities with sparqs.
• Thematic priorities for curriculum design. Employability, PDP, the Research-Teaching nexus, assessment, e-learning and sustainability.
Subject Centres’ recent activities in Scotland
1. Scottish Contacts and Networks
2. Discipline-focused events organised by SCs and held in Scotland
3. Funding of projects and mini-projects
4. Awards granted to Scottish academics and student awards
5. Scottish universities as partners in SC funded projects
6. Scottish contributions to journals/ magazines/ newsletters published by SCs
7. Departmental visits
Increased levels of engagement emerging!
Recent integrated activities in Scotland
1. Today
2. 2006 Subject Centre conference; session on Enh. Themes
3. 23 March 2006 event “Supporting QE in Scotland at the subject level” and 5 June 2006 event “Academy Scotland: Priorities and Plans”
4. Visits to SCs by SA, Scotland
5. SC representation on Scottish Sounding Board
6. SHEER project, sparqs project?
7. Scottish Newsletter- articles, event publicity….
8. Liaison Scheme visits…
9. Education for Sustainable Development, Employability, Assessment etc…
10.Policy Developments briefing; issue 1, Dec 2006
11.Support for Country Consultants, where appropriate?
12.Engaging key contacts? + + +??
Discussion question
• How might we most effectively support each other in our work in Scotland?
