Some thoughts: I'm an Associate Fellow! (AFHEA)

Having a portfolio career and working across different educational sectors is rewarding, keeps me on my toes and allows me to develop my teaching practice in several contexts. However, it also comes with its challenges.

One of these is the need for continuous professional development within each sector. Working in both Further Education and Higher Education often means that the CPD activities differ depending on the need in each sector. It also means that while a lot of the skill sets develop transferable skills, or good life experiences that the recognition of these activities is not necessarily recognised by both sectors. A related issue here is the practicalities of this, CPD takes time and as a part time employee it can be difficult to find the time to fit these activities into a workload. 

In this vein I have just received my Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA), this is great recognition for my work in a HEI, however what does it mean for my role within FE? Nothing really. However, I was encouraged to attain my AFHEA as my PGCE teacher training qualification is not as highly recognised in HE as it is in FE and these new letters I get to put after my name go some way to proving myself in a HEI context.

The application process for the AFHEA focused on the UK Professional Standards Framework (PSF), for teaching and supporting learning in higher education (2011), whereas the PGCE focused on Professional Standards for Teachers and Trainers in Education and Training (UKPS) (Education and Training Foundation, 2014).

Both frameworks focus on the use of a triangulation of valued standards, which mirror each other to an extent and mean that what I am expected to do in each sector does not really differ (other than the wording used).

PSF (2011)

Areas of Activity

Core Knowledge

Professional Values

UKPS (2014)

Professional Skills

Professional Knowledge and Understanding

Professional Values and Attributes 

In order to attain my PGCE I met the UKPS (2014) over my year of training; teaching and completing assignments about that teaching and related theory. The route to gaining the AFHEA was undoubtedly quicker and relied on writing a relatively short piece of text about how you meet the PSF (2011), backed up by two colleagues who as verify your claims. In my mind it is clear that if I had not completed the PGCE my application for AFHEA would have taken me a lot longer to a) achieve what was outlined of me, b) to be able to contextualise this with theory and c) to write the application form. As these are skills sets that I gained and developed (and have continued to keep on top of) from the PGCE). 

In my practical teaching experience - and the planning of it, it have not personally felt a discrepancy in how I approach my teaching practice, from working with traditional FE students in a further educational setting, to delivering sessions within a HEI and working within adult community learning. This might be down to my personal teaching philosophy, in which I see the importance of valuing and respecting each learner as an individual and being able to meet their individual needs. This is something that essentially both sector look for.

Professional Values

Respect individual learners and diverse learning communities (UKPSF, 2011)

Professional Values and Attributes  

Reflect on what works best in your teaching and learning to meet the diverse needs of learners (Education and Training Foundation, 2014)

The biggest difference working across the two sectors is who, as a teacher/tutor, we are answerable to. Within FE we have Ofsted, whereas within HE we look to the OFS (Office for Students). Both exist to inspect institutions and to uphold standards. 

References

Education and Training Foundation. (2014) Professional Standards for Teachers and Trainers in Education and Training. [PDF] https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ETF_Professional_Standards_Digital_FINAL.pdf. [accessed 14/03/20].

UKPSF. (2011) UK Professional Standards Framework (PSF) for teaching and supporting learning in higher education. [PDF] https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets.creode.advancehe-document-manager/documents/advance-he/UK%20Professional%20Standards%20Framework_1570613241.pdf. [accessed 14/03/20].