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Nathaniel's experience applying for an Associate-Fellow in Higher Education Award

NM286571 • Mar 25, 2024

By Dr Nathaniel Kaill, Research Associate, Wolfson School, Loughborough University

As a research associate employed at Loughborough my future career progression has been an area of focus for what development and training, I have decided to undertake while at Loughborough. Following previous teaching experience during my PhD an ambition of mine is to become a lecturer, towards this end a teaching qualification would be beneficial.

At Loughborough this is supported through the Loughborough University Teaching Recognition Scheme (LUTRS), which is accredited by Advance HE. This program is designed to offer those involved with teaching at the university a route to gain a teaching qualification. With either a presentation or written application route for any of the three recognised grades of associate-fellow, fellow and senior fellow. For those interested further about this scheme, the relevant information can be found at https://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/od-hub/topics/lboro-uni-teach-recognition-scheme/ .

Though as a researcher my interaction with student facing teaching is limited within my role, as such I decided to pursue this qualification through the written application approach as it would be easier to fit around my duties. Reaching out to module leaders in areas I would feel comfortable delivering material and negotiating enough time to qualify for the 20 hr teaching time criteria for the qualification.

I found that they were quite supportive to have an expert in the field alleviate some of their workload and responsibilities. Part of this process was to also organises a teaching observation, whereby a member of the organisational development team at Loughborough University would attend and grade the delivery of my teaching. Writing a report afterwards to tell me that I had passed and granting me further insight into how material is delivered in a university setting. The support the team offered was helpful, also sign posting me to other training offered by Loughborough that has proved useful in my personal development towards obtaining a lectureship and in aspects of my current role that involve communication of research.

Researchers on fixed term contracts, particularly short period contracts, often lack the time, availability, or awareness to engage with professional development that is offered by their employing university. Which is why I have found the written application approach to be beneficial approach while employed in this manner, as the evidence that you gather for the application can span multiple instances over a period. I recognise that this may be off putting to those who find themselves in this position but I do strongly encourage people to pursue the training and qualifications that are provided and attainable while at university as they can prove useful when deciding to advance a career in academia or further afield.

For further information, please see this link:

https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/fellowship