As part of a British Council funded project to support transformation and change across the Jordanian HE sector, Advance HE designed and delivered a contextualised programme of support, using the Professional Standards Framework (PSF) as a strategic driver for change.
The programme, which was initiated last summer, was anchored around an inclusive and values-based approach to educational practices. Using Advance HE’s model for change and underpinned by the PSF, it is hoped that as well as instigating live change projects, participants will have developed a reflective portfolio of their practice which can be used as evidence to make an application for Senior Fellowship.
Poster presentation
The initiative culminated in a poster presentation, with participants from five universities across Jordan joined by experts from Advance HE to showcase their projects and transformational plans for change.
Since taking part in the Capacity Building workshops over the course of the past eight months, participants have initiated significant change within their own universities. Projects were wide and varied and covered subjects, such as: creating more innovative assessment tools; capturing student feedback on the university environment; strategies to increase student engagement, addressing female under-representation in IT; and engaging wider stakeholders in the curriculum to enhance learning.
University leaders
At a special event held in country’s capital Amman, they presented details of the progress they have made to a panel of university leaders and specialists in academic practice including Professor Catriona Cunningham of Edinburgh Napier University and Professor Helen King, Bath Spa University.
The workshops and its follow-up events are part of an initiative instigated by Al Hussein Technical University in partnership with the British Council.
Delivering real-world change
“The aim of this project is to deliver a real-world change in teaching and learning for the benefit of Jordanian students,” said Advance HE’s Global Associate, Professor Fiona Smart.
“While for many projects, change can be elusive, we are delighted by the scale of the transformation these participants are already achieving in their institutions.
“It’s also been impressive to see the way the academics taking part have formed networking communities which are a fantastic source of support for those in their institutions and beyond to enhance their thinking and practice.”
The Professional Standards Framework together with guidance materials is available here.