Journal of Academic Development and Education JADE Issue 11 Summer 2019 | Page 66
Editor's
Epilogue Editor's Epilogue
Dr. Russell Crawford “I want…to change things. I want to believe that anything can
be changed.”
Senior Teaching
Fellow and Academic
Developer
Chrono, Chrono Crusade
-
SF-HEA (in case you
were interested)
Although from an unusual source, this quote could arguably
be the watchwords of a motivated academic developer and
whilst it can mean you are seen as a disruptive element in
some contexts, it was a welcome surprise all those years ago
when I found this to be the minority view despite what others
perceptions of the role might be. Having lived as an academic
developer for the last half decade (I can`t believe it either!!) I
have engaged with continuous professional development (CPD)
with others in a range of ways, from simple one-on-one support
with teaching to whole programme development and there has
consistently been one opportunity that stands out for me as an
effective and desirable mechanism for CPD and that is engaging
in a recognition-based CPD scheme.
Managing Editor of
JADE
[email protected]
I know what you are thinking….”You have just taken over
running the institutional professional recognition scheme, of
course you would say that!” and whilst that is true to some
extent, I have been both a traveller on that route as well
as a mentor since its creation here at Keele. Professional
recognition at any band, be that associate fellow, fellow, senior
fellow or principal fellow, is a valuable and I would say essential
esteem and credibility factor that those in HE cannot afford to
overlook or consign to the backburner. It is also worth noting
these bands are not in fact a hierarchical structure but are
instead based on the personal journey and the role(s) you have.
Having gone through most of these bands myself over the
years I would reflect that each was simultaneously rewarding
and challenging to complete in their own right, requiring
the individual to articulate their practice whilst at the same
time benchmark it again the UK Professional Standards
Framework (https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/ukpsf) which is
no mere afterthought. Where the challenge usually lies is in
harnessing the breadth of roles and activities performed and
then collecting, evidencing and articulating them all within
the limited word count in order to evidence suitability for
recognition.
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