Evidencing Learning and Teaching Skills

There are both immediate and longer terms benefits for participants who successfully obtain AFHEA through ELTS. 

Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy: 

• Is a nationally recognised indicator of professional teaching standards within Higher Education, as well as being recognised in many other countries including the USA, Australia, the Middle East, and many parts of Europe; 

• Is recognised by many British Higher Education institutes as an equivalent to a PGCert, therefore an Associate Fellowship demonstrates your commitment to achieving such standards enhancing your career opportunities; 

• Is based on extensive research across the HE sector as to what constitutes professional teaching and supporting learning, giving you confidence in your teaching; 

• Supports you in developing a reflective and critical approach to your teaching practice that will support life-long learning and development in your career; 

The ELTS pathway will support your development to achieving AFHEA by introducing you to some key pedagogy on learning and teaching in HE.

ELTS is comprised of six interactive workshops (each 1 -hour) supported with some online materials available through the VLE. These workshops and materials are designed to facilitate your critical observations and reflections on your current teaching practice. From these observations and reflections, you will draw out examples that demonstrate how you apply the descriptors and dimensions of the UKPSF.

You will have access to UKPSF Writing and Feedback sessions, along with other UKPSF-based pathway participants, to either quietly write or discuss your understanding and application of the UKPSF (respectively). The Academic Practice Team (APT) will be available via various channels (email, phone, Teams, Canvas and Zoom) to support you in developing your submission. 

To be eligible for ELTS you must: 

• Have completed the Introduction to Learning and Teaching in HE (ILTHE) training;

• Be able to attend ALL six workshops;

• Have a minimum of 15 -hours of HE teaching experience (which can include seminar leading, demonstrating, marking and tutoring/supporting students);

• Have the support of your PhD supervisor(s);

• NOT be in your first or final year of your PhD.

ELTS has an annual capacity of 80 to ensure full and consistent support for all participants, these are divided into two cohorts in each semester (i.e. 4 cohorts of 20). If you are eligible, please complete the following ELTS Application Form

Once your application has been reviewed you will be notified with details of which semester’s cohort you are assigned to, and when your workshops are scheduled. If the next available cohort is at capacity, you will be assigned to the next available future cohort, although we will try to prioritise students who are closer to their writing up year.

Taster/ Information sessions 

Taster/ Information sessions on the ELTS pathway and other professional development opportunities for postgraduates who teach/ demonstrate, and other part-time teachers are offered in each faculty as part of the Post Graduate Development Training Programmes. Please contact your faculty co-ordinator for further information. 

ELTS is supported by a small and experienced team in the Learning and Teaching Development Service. To contact us email apt.lts@newcastle.ac.uk. 

• Simon Jones-Anderson is the Programme Administrator and first point of contact for queries. 

• Dangeni, Rebecca Gill, Rosa Spencer and Emma McCulloch share the delivery of the ELTS workshops.