Posted 22 February 2019

The Department of Teacher Education at the University Centre at Leeds City College is excited to announce that it is currently finalising its offering of the Level 7 Academic Professional apprenticeship. This will be via the recognised pathway of a Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Practice in Higher Education, already offered by University Centre at Leeds City College. Completion of the course will contribute to Fellowship status with AdvanceHE (previously known as the Higher Education Academy).

It is currently accepting applications to start in September 2019.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Practice in HE is based on 60 credits acquired from a set of three compulsory modules (each module consisting of up to four day-schools):

• Demonstrating Professional and Interprofessional Practice;
• Teaching, Learning and Assessment in HE; and
• Building a Research Identity.

The introduction of the award is timely, given the implementation of The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). The TEF will include assessment on innovative practice in the design of HE curricula, the internationalisation of curricula and inclusivity in curriculum design. The educational aims of the programme have been conceived with such criteria in mind.

The apprenticeship offers a unique induction to the HE sector with a particular emphasis on evidence-based teaching and the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) is integrated into the educational aims of the award. It develops the teaching skills of those teaching in HE and enhances the complex specialist knowledge that characterises the work of the HE practitioner.

The course will provide a framework for the development of the academic knowledge, skills, values and behaviours, required for contemporary pedagogic practice in higher education. In addition, the programme aims to foster the development of a research-based approach to teaching, learning and assessment in HE and enable Academic Professionals and HE practitioners to design transformative undergraduate experiences for all students, including traditionally underrepresented groups.

Apprentices will reach full competency in their role through this apprenticeship, taking them from their entry point to employment in HE to full professional competence. This can be achieved following extensive training and work experience in both the core elements of the apprenticeship and in a specialist route for either teaching or research.

The programme has been welcomed by the Dean of HE at the University Centre at Leeds City College, who commented:

“One of the challenges for HE is that, historically, there hasn’t been a teaching qualification for HE teachers and, until recently, lecturers were not required to have a teaching qualification. The emphasis has always been on somebody’s research capabilities rather than teaching. A good researcher doesn’t necessarily make a good lecturer. So, a course such as the Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Practice – that prepares people to teach in HE – can only be a positive move both in universities and in CBHE.”

For further information about the Level 7 Academic Professional apprenticeship or the Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Practice in Higher Education, please contact the Head of Teacher Education Dr Nena Skrbic at nena.skrbic@leedscitycollege.ac.uk

This apprenticeship will be the newest addition to a suite of higher level and degree apprenticeships currently offered by the University Centre at Leeds City College, including:

• Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship
• Software Developer (Level 4)
• Network Engineer (Level 4)
• Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Higher Apprenticeship (Level 4)
• Assistant Practitioner (Health) (Level 5)
• Laboratory Scientist Degree Apprenticeship
• Laboratory Technician Advanced Apprenticeship (Level 3)
• Teacher (Level 6)
• FE Learning and Skills Teacher Apprenticeship (Level 5)

For further information about any of these apprenticeships, or about other provision at the University Centre at Leeds City College, please contact joanne.tyssen@leedscitycollege.ac.uk.

 

Jo Tyssen, Leeds City College