Teaching Excellence and Career Progression

Teaching Excellence as a Vehicle for Career Progression

• Accomplished university teachers are highly regarded by former students.
• Recognition of teaching prowess for career advancement has been limited.
• UK national policies, funding incentives, and market forces now emphasize teaching competence.
• UK universities value teaching skills in all researchers, including supervision of research students.
• Teaching quality is now publicly reviewed and regulated.
• Quality assurance procedures, institutional and subject audits, and professional body membership are common.
• Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), the Higher Education Academy (HEA), and Learning and Teaching Committees are influential.
• National Student Survey (NSS) impacts institutional policy on academic excellence.
• Increased student competition, both indigenous and overseas, has bolstered the importance of teaching quality.
• Teaching excellence is now frequently considered a key factor in career progression.

Career Progression Platform

• Career development should consider the integration of teaching and learning.
• Institutions create approaches to acknowledge increased importance of teaching excellence..
• HEIs adopt methods to integrate learning and teaching into career advancement.
• Individuals should develop a documentary evidence base for teaching-related promotions, including portfolios (e.g., paper-based or e-portfolios).
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for learning and teaching is no longer voluntary but a contractual requirement.
• Career-long teaching competence management is essential, not just aspirational.
• CPD activities ensure competency in current roles and future demands (anticipatory learning), addressing both current and future needs.
• Career routes are becoming more defined for teaching excellence, similar to research excellence standards.
• This is evident in post-1992 HEIs, but is increasing across the UK HE sector.
• Many universities require evidence of teaching excellence on both national and international levels.
• Teaching-related experiences, such as curriculum development, classroom innovation, leading collaborations, and grant acquisitions, are important.

Key Elements for Teaching Excellence

• Demonstrating innovative and distinctive teaching methodologies.
• Leadership in educational innovation or national committees related to learning and teaching.
• Innovative approaches in learning and teaching programs..
• Significant publications on teaching and learning in relevant academic journals and textbooks, along with presentations at conferences.
• Securing teaching-related grants is crucial, and a visible record in educating students who go on to be researchers is highly valued.
• Outstanding teaching ability demonstrated by leadership and distinctions in teaching and learning, including a high level of competence.
• Contributions towards knowledge and understanding, and professional application, including creative and innovative pedagogies.
• Influencing, stimulating, and inspiring other educators through teaching excellence, including an ability to inspire others.
• Peer-reviewed or peer-reviewable outputs, and demonstration of teaching excellence in practice, including externally recognized awards.

Teaching Excellence and Careers

• Teaching portfolios are used in some institutions to evidence teaching expertise.
• Criteria for scholarly teaching excellence and development are documented
• Portfolio contents (e.g., teaching statements, teaching activities, evaluation findings) provide insight into teaching experiences and influence.
• Established reputation in teaching and scholarship is essential (e.g., recognition from peers, students, and institutions).
• Developing expertise in activities like curriculum development, classroom innovation, leading teaching-and-learning collaborations, and securing grants is important.
• Experience in leadership positions (e.g., committee roles, program management) is valuable.
• Involvement in international teaching-related activities enhances professional recognition.
• Demonstrating competence and teaching excellence while progressing in other areas (e.g., research, leadership) offers a diverse profile, blending teaching with other elements of academics' broader expertise and impact.