Teaching Recognition Scheme

Applications for a Teaching Recognition Scheme FHEA are now open. The scheme will run over Hilary and Trinity terms 2022. There will be 25 places available and the scheme will continue to be available exclusively for those who successfully completed either the Enhancing Teaching Programme or the PGCert in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education at Oxford between 2016-20.

The scheme involves submitting a 3,000 word ‘recognition claim’, structured around five different areas of teaching activity. Applicants will also need to submit supporting statements from two colleagues who can act as ‘advocates’ and certify that their teaching is at Fellowship level.  

The submission deadline is Monday 20 June 2022 at 2pm, and results will be released by the end of July. There is no fee associated with the scheme, and the submissions will be examined by the educational development team at the Centre for Teaching and Learning.  

The recognition scheme will run online, supported by the Teaching Recognition Scheme tutors, Dr Natalie Usher and Dr Dominic Alonzi. The scheme will involve: 

• A Canvas course with asynchronous self-paced materials to work through, including videos explaining how to write the claim, self-evaluation tools and annotated examples  

• A live workshop, to be held on Teams in 9th week of Hilary term 

• Two optional peer support workshops, to be held on Teams in the Easter vacation and Trinity term  

• Regular drop-ins on Teams for you to bring questions to tutors  

In order to apply for the scheme, please complete the expression of interest form (Word Document) and submit it to contact@ctl.ox.ac.uk. The closing date for applications is Monday 7 February 2022 at 5pm.

If you have any questions about the Teaching Recognition Scheme FHEA, please contact us.

If you would like to find out more about applying to a future scheme for recognition as a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), please also contact us.

The pilot TRS enabled individuals to make a claim for recognition as either a Fellow or Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Places on the scheme were limited to ensure participants could benefit from focused support from staff in the Centre for Teaching and Learning.

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, FHEA maps to Descriptor 2 (D2) of the Professional Standards Framework for Teaching and Supporting Learning (PSF), whilst Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, SFHEA maps to Descriptor 3 (D3) of the PSF.

To be eligible to apply for a place on the Fellowship TRS in 2020-21, applicants were required to have previously completed either the Enhancing Teaching Programme or the PGCert in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education at Oxford between 2016-19, the period in which these programmes were not accredited by the HEA/Advance HE. Applicants to the scheme were required to demonstrate they are currently working at D2 level when they completed their application form.

The Senior Fellowship TRS was open to all staff who were able to demonstrate a sustained record of teaching and learning leadership at Oxford, for example, leading educational developments in a College/Department/Faculty/Division and/or across the institution, or playing a leading role in supporting others to develop their teaching practice etc.

In total, 16 FHEA and nine SFHEA participants were successful in gaining a place on the TRS.

Participants were supported in writing their claim for professional recognition by staff from the Centre for Teaching and Learning, alongside having access to a suite of tailored resources on Canvas. The scheme also provided professional development opportunities for colleagues to meet online and network with others across the University.

The TRS exam board was convened in June 2021, with an external examiner from the University of Leeds.

We are delighted to announce that all participants were successful in achieving recognition as either Fellow or Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. View a list of participants.

For Associate Fellow, please see Advancing Teaching and Learning, which is a taught programme. We do not currently offer a recognition scheme route in Oxford, but you may wish to pursue an independent direct application for recognition via Advance HE.

The recognition scheme is for applicants who have already undertaken the activities, reflection and teaching practice that allow them to make a ‘recognition claim’ that they have achieved the status they are seeking. A taught programme provides a guided, supported route to undertaking the activities, reflection, and developing one’s teaching practice.