Cardiff University: Accreditation and the PSF drive strategic change
Cardiff University’s 2035 Strategy has been built on extensive consultation and collaboration with staff, students and external communities. The University’s strategic approach to achieving their commitment to ‘offer students of all ages and backgrounds learning in a variety of ways, using the best pedagogy and enabled by flexible delivery and digital innovation’ depends on education-focused staff equipped to bring this vision to life.
This case study shares insights from interviews with Claire Morgan, Pro Vice Chancellor Education and Student Experience (PVC) at Cardiff University, who explains that the Advance HE (re)accreditation process enabled a focus on institutional priorities. The value of participation in Fellowship Programmes and related activities such as assessing and mentoring is recognised by the award of tariff points in Cardiff’s workload model. The enthusiastic engagement of Fellowship alumni is impressive and a vital component of the fellowship scheme and wider initiatives to promote educational excellence. The appraisal system encourages ‘conversations about learning and teaching and the Fellowship scheme’. Senior Fellowship is a merit in applications for promotion.
Fellowship is championed and celebrated from the very top of the institution. Vice Chancellor Professor Wendy Larner and the PVC hold Principal Fellowships and more than 140 staff are Senior Fellows. The PVC aims to grow the number of Senior Fellows to sharpen the focus on the development of academic leadership.
Her advice for senior colleagues looking to achieve similar results is:
- Build in time prior to (re)accreditation to consult widely with colleagues and students to fully understand what transformation is needed to address strategic priorities.
- To maximise the value to individuals and the institution, embed professional learning within the fellowship journey for experienced as well as early career staff.
- Invest in an experienced team to lead the provision, ensuring that they are well connected to relevant senior leaders/ strategic-level committees to promote impact.
- Make use of fellowship in communicating the importance of educational excellence, championing from the top, celebrating success and sharing transformational practice.
Read the full case study and one page summary below.
