As we get close to achieving one thousand Principal Fellows, it is worth reflecting on the benefits of the process of gaining PFHEA. Not only is it a recognition of an individual’s commitment to strategic leadership of learning and teaching but the reflective process is also beneficial.
Taking time to think about your personal impact, what difference you have made to the student experience and the academic practice of others, is a beneficial use of time in busy leaders lives. Rarely do you get the opportunity, space and time to. Why? Because you are on to the next project or as Jeffrey Buller says “putting that fire out “(Buller, 2014). It is an opportunity to take time out to boost your own self-esteem, rather than supporting others. As Dr Kathryn Waddington, Reader in Work and Organisational Psychology says in her blog post, “We have to ‘dare to care’ about our students, our colleagues, our institutions and ourselves.”
Fast-track your PF Application
In addition to allowing you time for yourself, Advance HE writing retreats give you a safe space in order to fast-track your application for Principal Fellow. Senior leaders working in HE rarely have “Me Time”, but rather than considering it an indulgence, attending a writing retreat gives you the valuable time and space to fast-track your application. Instead of squeezing in hours here and there to complete your Fellowship application, why not come along to a Principal Fellow Writing Retreat? Here you’ll not only have time to consider all the evidence of your impact, but you’ll also have the chance to have your application assessed by a critical friend to ensure it’s the best it can be.
Interested? We run Principal Fellow Writing Retreats every month:
If you want to know more about what other PFs thought of the retreats, take a look at some of the blog posts from previous delegates and see what a difference a Principal Fellow Writing Retreat made to them.
Dr Sam Nolan, Durham University
Professor Steve Cook, Swansea University
Professor Claire Taylor, Wrexham Glyndŵr University
I look forward to welcoming you on a writing retreat very soon!
Professor Sally Bradley, Senior Adviser, Advance HE
