Information for candidates:
1. Requirement
As part of its commitment to maintaining the highest academic standards in teaching and learning, the University expects all newly appointed or promoted teaching-related staff to gain a qualification or recognition by a professional body as accepted by HESA1, if not already achieved. The following table outlines the University’s requirement in terms of how individuals should gain this status and includes reference to the following provision:
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Associate Teachers’ Programme (ATP)
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Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE) Course
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Nottingham Recognition Scheme
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Post
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Length of contract
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Requirement
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Time allowed
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R&T Level 6&7 (except researchers)
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Fixed >1 year or Permanent
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Gain a qualification or recognition by a professional body as accepted by HESA1
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2 years
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R&T Level 5 (except researchers)
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Fixed >1 year or permanent
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30 credits of PGCHE
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2 years*
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Clinical Assistant Professors
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Fixed >3 years or permanent
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15 credits of PGCHE
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2 years*
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R&T Level 4 (Teaching)
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Fixed >1 year or permanent
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ATP#
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1 year*
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* From start of course
#Currently the ATP does not run on the international campuses so Level 4 equivalent teaching staff there will be required to complete one module (15 credits) of PGCHE.
1https://www.hesa.ac.uk/collection/c15025/a/actchqual/
2. Link to Promotion
Candidates will not be eligible for promotion to the next level in the job family until this requirement has been completed.
3. Exemption Criteria
R&T Level 6&7 (except researchers)
There will be no requirement for those who already hold a teaching qualification or professional body recognition as accepted by HESA.
R&T Level 5 (except researchers)
There will be no PGCHE requirement for those who have either:
a. 30 credits of a UK Postgraduate Teaching Certificate or equivalent#
b. Achieved Descriptor 2 of the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) via an appropriate accrediting body (e.g. HEA Fellow).
Clinical Assistant Professors
There will be no PGCHE requirement for those who have either:
a. 15 credits of a UK Postgraduate Teaching Certificate or equivalent#
b. Achieved Descriptor 1 of the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) via an appropriate accrediting body (e.g. HEA Associate Fellow).
#The following qualifications would be considered acceptable:
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PGCHE, PGCAP, PGCFE, PGCE (not primary), MMedSci Medical Education or other as defined by HESA
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Or PGCTEAP, or DELTA for English Language lecturers
Where candidates have all or part of an overseas postgraduate teaching qualification (not primary) their case will be referred to the PGCHE Course Director for consideration as to whether exemption or partial Recognition of Other Learning (ROL) are appropriate.
Where candidates have considerable (usually > 3 years) HE lecturing experience (in Lecturer, University Teacher or Teaching Fellow type roles), but no qualification or attainment of UKPSF Descriptor 2, or have an education-related qualification not accepted by HESA (eg MA in Education, PhD Education, PGCE Primary), their case will be referred to the PGCHE Course Director for consideration as to whether they have the credentials to apply for and gain Descriptor 2 of the UKPSF. If so, they will be given the opportunity to do so instead of engaging in the PGCHE.
In both cases, the PGCHE Course Director will discuss and agree the outcome with the Head of School and this will be communicated to the individual concerned.
R&T Level 4 (Teaching)
There will be no ATP requirement for those who have either:
a. 15 credits of a UK Postgraduate Teaching Certificate#
b. Achieved Descriptor 1 of the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF)
# The same qualifications as PGCHE would be considered acceptable.
Where candidates have all or part of an overseas postgraduate teaching qualification (not primary) their case will be referred to the ATP Course Director for consideration as to whether exemption is are appropriate.
Where candidates have considerable (usually > 3 years) HE lecturing experience (in Lecturer, University Teacher or Teaching Fellow type roles), but no qualification or attainment of UKPSF Descriptor 1, or have an education-related qualification not accepted by HESA (eg CELTA), their case will be referred to the ATP Course Director for consideration as to whether they have the credentials to apply for and gain Descriptor 1 of the UKPSF. If so, they will be given the opportunity to do so instead of engaging in the ATP.
In both cases, the ATP Course Director will discuss and agree the outcome with the Head of School and this will be communicated to the individual concerned.
4. Workload and time allowance
The time allowances for completing the requirements are predicated on Schools giving staff an appropriate workload allowance as advised by HR. Where individual staff are on a part-time contract such that it would mean it is difficult for their School to give them the necessary workload allowance, the Head of School should discuss and agree an appropriate time allowance with the relevant Course Director.
Staff who experience significant absence from work within the time allowance on grounds of protected characteristics (eg sick leave, maternity/paternity leave etc) will be eligible for consideration for an extension. Individual staff should contact the relevant Course Director to request an extension.
5. Further Information
Further details of these courses are available at:
PGCHE: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/teaching/teaching/pgche/index.aspx
ATP: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/professionaldevelopment/learningandteaching/atp.aspx