Realising the vision

1. Higher Education Learning Partnerships [HELP] Centre for Excellence in Teaching & Learning [CETL] Summary Vision and Aims The HELP CETL aims to become thenational exemplar of excellence in locally-based Higher Education in Further Education [HE in FE]. CETL funding will enable HELP to build on the excellent track record of the University of Plymouth [along with its regional Further Education College partners] in developing successful HE in FE partnerships and significantly widening participation while simultaneously maintaining high retention levels. We will further strengthen our partnership, enhance the students’ experience, support a major expansion of provision and spread excellence both across our network and more widely through collaboration with other HE in FE consortia [e.g. at Staffordshire & Central Lancashire]. • The CETL will enable us to become the national exemplar of excellence in HE in FE provision. CETL funds will facilitate this, allowing us to: • invest heavily in developing HE in FE staff and teaching expertise • provide uniformly high quality student learning opportunities and infrastructure across the region • inspire teaching and learning communities to research their practices and to share & disseminate activities and learning materials within the region and beyond • After five years, the CETL will have directly impacted on all UPC staff and students and, through the Subject Forums, will also benefit many other University staff and students • We shall also have made a major contribution to the development of HE in FE partnerships across the country Realising the vision The work plan involves staff across the Partnership in 34 Development Activities for the next three years. [linked to the eight key themes] During the third year we shall start to introduce additional development activities, designed by groups from across the wider Partnership The development groups will evolve into regional and national Communities of Practice [CoPs] that will provide guidance, support and development opportunities to others We shall bring together, and call on the experience of, major partnership networks from across the UK and other relevant national and international organizations, including FDF, the HE Academy Many groups have a key role in supporting Subject Forums and in evaluating and disseminating their own good practice - the CETL will support these groups to become CoPs in their own right e.g. Education Development & Learning Technologies (EDaLT) and Information and Learning Services (ILS) Universityof PlymouthCollegesUPC • UPC is recognised as a national leader in HE in FE. Our reputation is based • on success in working together to improve the student experience by • developing staff, enhancing infrastructure and sharing good practice: • developing a shared sense of purpose • supporting regional development and employability linked to the work of the SWERDA and the SSC • dissemination through collaboration • dissemination through research activity • promoting scholarship and research • Strong partnerships are built around genuine collaborations in which all the • partners can make an effective contribution in areas that matter to them. • UPC has developed strengths in collaboration around eight key themes, all • of which allow partners to work together and share good practice: • Curriculum design, learning-teaching approaches and assessment • Student support • Facilitating transition • Creating learning materials and e-learning resources • Professional development • Evidence based practice • Strategic planning, quality review & enhancement mechanisms • Effective leadership and management Rewarding and recognising staff • The HELP CETL will: • recognise existing expertise & excellence • reward contributions to CETL developments • build capacity in pedagogic research and scholarship • redress the current problem of providing appropriate rewards and recognition for teachers of HE in FE • award six £10,000 pa. CETL fellowships to excellent HE in FE teaching staff • offer fifteen £3,000 CPD Awards pa. to academic and support staff • enhance opportunities for professional development & promotion prospects • support participation in Masters Level Advanced Professional Practice modules and provide ‘Change Academy’ type opportunities Enhancing student experiences • CETL plans have been based on student views / feedback, focused on: • developing the physical infrastructure • developing a communications infrastructure that will bring students into contact with a greater range of specialist staff through video conferencing • actions to develop the range of student support facilities available across the partnership • supporting students though researching the experience of transition • providing more collaboratively developed learning materials Mark Stone HELP CETL Director m2stone@plymouth.ac.uk www.help-cetl.ac.uk c/o University of Plymouth Colleges University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA. 01752 232334