A national scheme to develop and accredit university teachers

Abstract

In 1991 the UK Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA) developed and launched a national scheme for the training and qualification of teachers in higher education. Teachers are accredited if they demonstrate eight specified objectives underpinned by seven specified values. Programmes of staff development which assess teachers’ attainment of these objectives and values are recognized by SEDA. By the start of November 1996, SEDA had recognized 30 programmes and a similar number of programmes were at various stages of preparation for recognition. More than seven hundred teachers are undertaking recognized programmes or are already accredited. The paper describes the development and operation of the scheme; starts to locate the scheme in a wider framework of competence, preparation and accreditation of all staff who teach in higher education; and explores some of the operational, educational and philosophical issues faced by the scheme.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Carole Baume

Carole and David have acted as external validators and examiners for many programmes for new teaching staff in UK Universities. They have recently written a series of booklets for research students who teach, published by the Oxford Centre for Staff Development.