INTRODUCTION
Fiona Smart, Edinburgh Napier University
As proud as we should be of SHED’ s 25th birthday, SHED’ s longevity is only part of its story. It is a community which continues to thrive as the context of higher education shifts and reforms. It offers a space for individuals enacting roles which seek to support and enhance academic practice across the nineteen institutions which make up its number. Importantly, SHED provides a place for us to gather, to talk, to share, to debate and to be. The poem which concludes this publication, inspired by its foreword, is testament to this. Entitled‘ Wha’ s Like Us?’ it recognises change over time and SHED’ s capacity to endure and to flourish. The three poetic forms which precede‘ Wha’ s Like Us’ adopt the‘ rules’ of poetic transcription with a twist 1 to shine different lights on the detail of the foreword. Penned by three different authors, there is remarkable similarity in how they see SHED’ s journey to maturity.
The case studies offer insight into the different ways in which educational development plays out in our Scottish context. Each one provides a window to better understand our collective practice.
My hope is that you enjoy the collection and that as you explore the cases you appreciate still further the difference we can and do make to the student experience, directly or indirectly.
Dr Fiona Smart, PFHEA Department of Learning and Teaching Enhancement
Edinburgh Napier University SHED’ s Convenor
1 Poetic transcription with a twist: supporting early career academics through liminal spaces DOI: 10.1080 / 1360144X. 2016.1210519
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Celebrating 25 years of SHED