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Teaching and Learning

Enhancing teaching and learning in higher education

Strategic areas of priority key for change The quality of teaching in higher education has never been more important. We provide access to a wide range of resources to help institutions evolve their approach to teaching and learning, so it not only addresses their own strategic priorities, but also meets the changing needs and expectations of students.

Transforming education for tomorrow's challenges

Higher education institutions today face unprecedented challenges across multiple fronts. Digital transformation requires rapid adaptation of teaching methods and learning environments, while student mental health concerns have been exacerbated by global uncertainties. Financial pressures increasingly affect resource allocation and sustainability efforts, and diversifying student populations necessitate more inclusive teaching approaches. 

Simultaneously, institutions must respond to growing employability expectations from students, employers, and governments. The rise of AI technologies has introduced new academic integrity concerns that require innovative solutions, and educators continuously struggle with balancing academic rigor with the need for accessibility and flexibility in program delivery. These interconnected challenges demand holistic, forward-thinking approaches from institutional leaders and educators alike.

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How we're supporting institutions and educators 

At Advance HE, we partner with institutions worldwide to enhance teaching quality and create transformative learning experiences. Our evidence-based approaches help educators and leaders navigate the evolving landscape of higher education while maintaining focus on student success.

Discover our resources that cover the essential themes impacting student success:

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Let's talk about student success podcast

Join our monthly conversations with higher education's thought leaders. We're creating a space where insights flow as freely as coffee, and where experience meets innovation in supporting student success. 

Listen wherever you get your podcasts

You can listen to our podcast on the major podcast platforms. Search for "Let's Talk About Student Success."

Spotify
Zencastr
Amazon Music
Apple Podcasts

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Student Success Frameworks Series

Best practice frameworks, informed by research, developed with the sector for the sector

The issues impacting on student success are broad and complex, having a shared point of reference and common language to discuss, shape and review policy, process and practice can therefore be an extremely effective way of applying a consistent methodology to leading change. 

Engaging with our research informed frameworks in combination, will help identify smarter ways of working. This is achieved through identifying synergies between key strategic priorities that all underpin teaching excellence and the aspiration to support student success in its broadest sense.

Find out more
Framework for Enhancing Student Success dial
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Advance HE Fellowship

Advance HE fellowship demonstrates a commitment to professionalism and provides recognition of practice, impact and leadership in teaching and learning.

We award four categories of fellowship that recognise your role in teaching and/or supporting higher education learning:

Fellowships are awarded based on evidence of personal professional practice that meets the requirements of the Professional Standards Framework 2023 (PSF 2023), the standards framework for the higher education sector. The category of fellowship you can apply for will depend on which of the four Descriptors of the PSF 2023 is most appropriate to your practice and professional experience.

Over 200,000 people have been awarded Fellowship worldwide.

Find out more
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Our expert team

Working with us means drawing on the expertise of highly experienced colleagues who are active leaders in their fields with significant track records in supporting institutions to deliver their objectives. We also work with a vast group of highly experienced and skilled associates.

Louise Lumsden SFHEA

Head of Fellowships (Teaching)
,
Advance HE
Louise Lumsden
Louise Lumsden is Head of Fellowships (Teaching) at Advance HE. Louise has been working with the Professional Standards Framework for teaching and supporting learning in higher education for ten years. Louise’s work is primarily to support individuals to be professionally recognised for their teaching and supporting learning practice through the Advance HE direct route to fellowship, but also supports institutions through teaching and learning accreditation. Louise is a Senior Fellow.

Stuart Norton, PFHEA

Head of Educational Excellence
,
Advance HE
Stuart Norton
Stuart has over 20 years’ experience within higher education with extensive experience in designing and developing strategic, institutional-wide change. In his role as Head of Educational Excellence at Advance HE, he focuses on both thought leadership and providing evidence-based solutions to support institutions, educators and students.

Professor Mark O'Hara

Senior Consultant, Education
,
Advance HE
Mark O'Hara 2024
Professor Mark O’Hara is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a National Teaching Fellow and a winner of the Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence in the UK. Mark is a former Chair of the UK’s CATE-Network and has over 30 years’ experience leading educational change in a wide variety of roles including undergraduate and postgraduate programme leadership, Head of Student Experience, Associate Dean for Learning, Teaching and Academic Quality and Associate PVC (Education).

Vic Stephenson

Senior Consultant - Education
,
Advance HE
Vic Stephenson
Vic is a Senior Consultant at Advance HE, designing and delivering support and training on inclusive pedagogy approaches and leading a range of collaborative projects to enhance quality, student experience and outcomes. She has over 25 years of experience in education as a teacher, teacher trainer, academic manager and assessment specialist. Vic’s main interests are in international education, inclusive curricula and assessment design and technology-enhanced learning.

Dr Elliott Spaeth

Senior Consultant in Inclusive Education
,
Advance HE
Elliott Spaeth
Dr Elliott Spaeth is a visionary leader in the field of Inclusive Practice in Higher Education, with a particular focus on empowering staff to create psychologically safe environments for disabled and/or neurodivergent students.