HEA CPD Route | Reviewing

 All applications for HEA Fellowship will be reviewed according to the following procedures:

Associate Fellow applications are reviewed on the quality of their claim made / evidence provided against each of the D1 Descriptor points (D1.1 to D1.6). 

Fellow and Senior Fellow applications (including answers given in the professional discussion if this route is opted for) are reviewed against the quality of their claim made / evidence provided against each of the each of the D2 Descriptor points (D2.1 to D2.6) for FHEA and D3 Descriptor points (D3.1 to D3.7) for SFHEA. 

Principal Fellow applications (including answers given in the professional discussion if this route is opted for) are reviewed against the quality of their claim made / evidence provided against each of the D4 Descriptor points (D4.1 to D4.5). 

 

Reviewers use bespoke review forms for each category of fellowship to provide written feedback on applications (and professional discussions if this route is opted for) and make one of three recommendations to the Recognition Panel. For each of the Descriptor points the reviewers will indicate whether the evidence provided is Strong, Satisfactory or Insufficient. Evidence needs to be satisfactory in all areas of the Descriptor to pass. If the evidence provided is deemed insufficient in any of aspect of the Descriptor the application will be referred for re-submission at a later date. 

Reviewers will make one of three recommendations to the Recognition Panel, these are:

  • Recommendation 1: The application meets the criteria for Fellowship.
  • Recommendation 2: The application does not meet the criteria for Fellowship and requires some further development and/or reflection in order to meet the criteria.
  • Recommendation 3: The application does not meet the criteria for Fellowship and requires more substantial development and reflection in order to meet the criteria.

The role of the recognition panel is to (internally and externally) moderate and verify all fellowship recommendations. These panels are held 6.5 weeks after each fellowship submission deadline. Reviewing teams make a fellowship recommendation to the panel, however the final decision about each application is made and verified at the panel meetings. Thus, the recognition panel represents the final stage of the decision-making process. Keele’s HEA CPD Route has two external advisors who moderate the application reviewing process and read a selection of all applications submitted at each of the three deadlines per year (including listening to recordings of professional discussions), inputting their feedback during the panel. External advisors are recruited through an open recruitment process and are free from any reciprocal external relationships and conflict of interest.

After all fellowship decisions have been verified by the panel, applicants will receive an email notifying them of their fellowship recommendation and providing them with the fellowship review form completed by the reviewers. Applicants whose evidence meets the criteria for recognition will have their name forwarded to the HEA and will be able to download a certificate from the HEA confirming their fellowship status in due course. Applicants whose evidence does not meet the required standard for recognition for the category of fellowship applied for, will have the opportunity to gain more detailed feedback and guidance from the HEA CPD Route programme lead ahead of re-submitting their application at the next fellowship deadline.