Developing a distinctive approach to the Academy’s work in Scotland

1. Developing a distinctive approach to the Academy’s work in Scotland Alastair Robertson Senior Adviser, Scotland Presentation at University of Stirling, 14 November 2006

2. Outline of talk • Background to the meeting • Purpose of the meeting and intended outcomes • Developing a distinctive approach • Discussion

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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.

7. “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

8. The 2005-06 Institutional Liaison Scheme: Subject Centres- Perceptions • 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 • Academy Scotland: Enhancement and Engagement, 24 May 2007, Stirling

9. 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.

10. Subject Centres’ recent activities in Scotland • Scottish Contacts and Networks • Discipline-focused events organised by SCs and held in Scotland • Funding of projects and mini-projects • Awards granted to Scottish academics and student awards • Scottish universities as partners in SC funded projects • Scottish contributions to journals/ magazines/ newsletters published by SCs • Departmental visits • Increased levels of engagement emerging!

11. Recent integrated activities in Scotland • Today • 2006 Subject Centre conference; session on Enh. Themes • 23 March 2006 event “Supporting QE in Scotland at the subject level” and 5 June 2006 event “Academy Scotland: Priorities and Plans” • Visits to SCs by SA, Scotland • SC representation on Scottish Sounding Board • SHEER project, sparqs project? • Scottish Newsletter- articles, event publicity…. • Liaison Scheme visits… • Education for Sustainable Development, Employability, Assessment etc… • Policy Developments briefing; issue 1, Dec 2006 • Support for Country Consultants, where appropriate? • Engaging key contacts? + + +??

12. Discussion question • How might we most effectively support each other in our work in Scotland? alastair.robertson@heacademy.ac.uk www.heacademy.ac.uk