Guidance for Candidates
The Nottingham Recognition Scheme (NRS) is accredited by Advance HE to make recognition decisions internally and award the status of Associate Fellow, Fellow, or Senior Fellow to successful candidates. Once recognised, colleagues can use the nominal AFHEA, FHEA or SFHEA. If you are currently awaiting feedback on a submission, or are completing minor revisions from the earlier scheme, then you will continue under those arrangements until a final outcome is agreed.
Colleagues may have a requirement to engage with the NRS resulting from a recent appointment to the University or may have been asked to gain recognition as part of the University’s commitment for all teaching staff to hold either a qualification (such as the PGCHE) or recognition for their teaching practice.
The newly accredited scheme has several enhancemets:
- Changes to requirement for references: none for Associate Fellow; one for Fellow; and two for Senior Fellow.
- New option for Associate Fellow and Fellow to submit by portfolio (via a presentation/Q&A).
- All claims to include comments on impact of recent observation of teaching practice.
We have also introduced more rigorous moderating and quality procedures which will involve candidates receiving an indicative outcome initially after reviewing has been completed, followed by formal confirmation after our twice-yearly NRS Ratification Board has met
2019/2020 Deadlines:
- 6th May 2020
- 10th June 2020
Book your place to join our 2019/2020 Online Workshops:
Please get in touch with us if you have any questions about the scheme. Our NRS Director and NRS Team will be happy to help you.
Eligibility
In brief, the Nottingham Recognition Scheme is open to those staff and PG students at the 糖心原创 (including campuses in the UK, China and Malaysia) who are in the following roles:
- Academic staff at all levels looking to have their continuing professional development and their teaching expertise and leadership skills recognised.
- Postgraduate students who support teaching in the disciplines;
- Teaching support staff (technicians, librarians, learning technologists, learning support staff) who have a role in supporting students;
- Staff who teach as a part of their role (e.g. practitioner health lecturers);
- Academic and research focussed staff with specialist teaching activity (e.g. PG supervision, lab based assessment).
Registration
Candidates must first register for the scheme using the online form.
Preparing a claim
In preparation for your claim, you should:
- Attend an NRS briefing or view the NRS briefing video
- Familiarise yourself with the Nottingham Recognition Scheme and resources on the NRS website
- Enroll in our module to access reading materials and submission samples.
- Identify opportunities for teaching and learning-related CPD in support of a claim if necessary
You should attend an NRS briefing or view the below PowerPoint presentation (with audio recording) before preparing a claim. There are also detailed guidance notes associated with the UKPSF and how this relates to your practice, and notes for each descriptor to support you in deciding which category of Fellowship you might apply for.
NRS Briefing Presentation - April 2020
You are strongly encouraged to seek the support of a mentor; it is not compulsory but successful candidates report that discussions with a mentor have been a key contributor to success. Networking and developing new professional relationships are also identified as key features of effective practice as your career and teaching and learning contributions develop. All our mentors are drawn from the Fellow Network of the University and have offered to share their time and experience to other colleagues in preparing a claim for recognition.
Visit the PFHEA / SFHEA list in this website and approach a colleague you would like to work with. We are in the process of developing a similar group of Fellows of the HEA who can support those colleagues submitting for D1 (Associate Fellow HEA) and D2 (Fellow HEA). If there is no-one that you feel you can approach, please contact the NRS Director who will look for a mentor for you.
Please inform the
NRS team of anyone who is supporting you as a mentor.
Guidance and Resources
Guidance notes by descriptor:
Reading and ideas for an evidence-base to demonstrate impact:
A range of anonymised submissions are available here:
Characteristics of a good claim video
Candidates have several options for the format of a claim
Written submission for
- Associate Fellow (D1) 1400 – 1500 words
- Fellow (D2) 2600 – 3000 words
- Senior Fellow (D3) 5700 – 6000 words
Presentation submission by PowerPoint/Q&A for
- Associate Fellow (D1) – 10 minutes plus 5 minutes Q&A
- Fellow (D2) - 15 minutes plus 10 minutes Q&A
- Senior Fellow (D3) – 30 minutes plus 15 minutes Q&A
Presentation submission by portfolio/Q&A for
- Associate Fellow (D1) - 10 minutes plus 5 minutes Q&A
- Fellow (D2) -15 minutes plus 10 minutes Q&A
Fellow (D2): one reference
Senior Fellow (D3): two references (or advocate statements)
The references should authenticate the claim by verifying that the practice of the candidate meets the requirements of the relevant descriptor and that the evidence provided is accurate.
Referees may include any colleague who has knowledge of the candidate’s work, such as a Head of School, School Director of Teaching, or a peer. If a substantial part of a claim relates to HE experience and impact beyond the 糖心原创, candidates may consider an external colleague as a referee, although on the whole we would expect to see referees from inside the University.
Observation of practice
To authenticate your claim you will need to submit evidence when you claim Fellowship of a recent observation of practice/professional dialogue (within the last 12 months). This evidence can take the form of one of the following:
- an existing School or Department-based form;
- or a completed Teaching and Learning Observation College (TLOC) form to capture an earlier School or Department dialogue or observation.
If you do not have evidence of a local activity within the last 12 months, you can request a dialogue or observation through the Teaching and Learning Observation College and then submit the necessary form (the TLOC website will be live shortly)
Submitting a claim
When you feel ready to make a claim for recognition, you should submit via the Moodle submission area, including your written submission, presentation slides or portfolio, your observation of practice and the required references (one for Fellow and two for Senior Fellow).
Please note there are strict word count limits and timings associated with each descriptor. On receipt of a complete submission, the NRS Team will arrange for the submission to be considered at the next reviewing opportunity.
Outcomes
Decisions available to reviewers are:
- Accept: the submission demonstrates that the candidate’s practice aligns with the relevant descriptor of the UKPSF.
- Refer (minor): the submission does not demonstrate that the candidate’s practice aligns with the relevant descriptor of the UKPSF; however minor amendments submitted in writing may be sufficient to demonstrate alignment successfully. These minor revisions will be further considered by the initial reviewers.
- Refer (major): the submission does not demonstrate that the candidate’s practice aligns with the relevant descriptor of the UKPSF and would require major revisions to do so. A resubmission will be required and will be considered by a new panel.
Candidates who are asked to undertake minor revisions will have their revised claim reconsidered within the initial reviewing period. Major revisions (resubmission) will be reviewed by a new panel at a subsequent reviewing opportunity.
In the case of an unsuccessful submission for Fellow (D2), reviewers may recommend recognition as Associate Fellow (D1) if the claim meets the requirements for this descriptor.
Candidates will be notified of the outcome by email and, where revisions are requested, details will be given, including further sources of support and guidance. Candidates will normally have up to 4 weeks to respond for minor revisions. These will be shared with the initial reviewers and they will make a further decision, usually within 2 weeks.
The NRS Team will only share details once a successful outcome is achieved. Heads of School and HR will be informed of successful candidates (with the Vice Chancellor being notified of Senior Fellows). Candidates will also be registered with Advance HE.
Remaining in good standing
Advance HE expects Fellows to be working towards their next descriptor and be performing, or out-performing, their current Fellow descriptor standard. All Fellows should therefore be able to demonstrate compliance with (at least) their awarded descriptor at any given time. See the section on ‘Remaining in good standing’ included later in this website.
Appeals and Complaints
Whilst appeals against decisions of the reviewers cannot be made, candidates may make a complaint relating to a procedural irregularity or perceived conflict of interest. Appeals and complaints will be addressed by the PVC Education and Student Experience or nominee. If a complaint of procedural irregularity is upheld, the recognition process will return to the point where the procedure was not properly followed and will resume from there.
If a complaint of perceived conflict of interest is upheld, the candidate’s submission will be reconsidered at the next available reviewing event. These procedures are in accordance with the University’s complaints, grievance and dignity procedures: /hr/guidesandsupport/complaintsgrievanceanddignity/complaintsprocedures-universityguidance.aspx
Where colleagues wish to raise a matter of concern, they are directed to the NRS Director in the first instance, or to PVC Education and Student Experience or nominee if the matter involves the NRS Director.