27 August 2023

Application Senior Fellow Higher Education Academy

I mentioned earlier I wanted to apply for promotion to senior lecturer. And I said I next needed to apply to become Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. And by now I have had a look at what that takes. Most people would have done that years ago, but I’m me, and I hadn’t. And I must say this could become a stumbling block! You basically have to demonstrate in two case studies that you are a leading light regarding education both in the school and in a wider context (college, university). And there are lots of criteria to meet: management, inclusivity, innovation, whatnot.

In my SL application I am going for the scattergun approach; I have been in the job for a while, and from all various corners of my activities I can cobble together examples of a lot of the things they want to see. I am fairly confident about that. But if everything needs to be in two case studies, you need to have done two big, all-encompassing things. I will just give it a go; I'll just think of the biggest things I have done, and then try to write them down as convincingly as possible. There is a fair chance it won't be successful, but then at least I will have had a try, and then the second attempt will be easier. And I can have that second of times after I have indeed done too big things. And at least I now know what I'm working towards. I have just taken on two rather big jobs earlier this calendar year; it’s quite possible I can use these two in a second attempt. Right now it is still too early.

I have heard a rumour that being a Senior Fellow he is now not desired but essential. So if I don't manage with the senior fellow application, then the senior lecturer is also not going to happen. But again; if I get a lot of the work out of the way now, I should be able to strike without too much difficulty once the senior fellowship is sorted. Whenever that may be. It looks like I'm in for the long haul. Not what I would have hoped, but if that's what it takes then that's what I will do! Stay tuned...

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