Academic Professional Apprenticeship - Higher Education Practice (Keele Staff Only)
Postgraduate Diploma/MA (APA)
- Mode of study
- Part time
- Faculty
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Subject Area
- Education
Course Overview
The Academic Professional Apprenticeship is a course specifically designed to support staff to develop and explore their academic practice as an educator and researcher in UK Higher Education.
About the course
The Academic Professional Apprenticeship (APA) is offered to academic staff in relation to their development as a higher education practitioner delivering higher education teaching and undertaking research to support the development of knowledge within their discipline.
The programme is designed to enable all participants, their mentors, and other colleagues to become part of a community of practice exploring and contributing to the development of the two major areas of practice of academic professionals, teaching and research. Specifically, it supports participants to gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours to succeed as an academic professional.
The programme combines core practice in HE teaching and research with level 7 critical study and is benchmarked to sector wide practice. The PGDip has been accredited by AdvanceHE (previously Higher Education Academy) and is benchmarked to descriptor 2 of the UK Professional Standards Framework. The Academic Professional Apprenticeship standards can be viewed here.
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Aims of the course
Please note that this course is only open to applications from Keele University staff.
The programme aims to develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours that will equip you to fully deliver higher education (HE) teaching and undertake research to support the development and dissemination of knowledge in a subject/ discipline, including opportunities to engage in research and scholarship around teaching and learning in HE. The broad aims of the programme are to support you to develop their ability to share your expertise of a subject/discipline with students, with peers, funders, the public and other stakeholders through teaching, specialist publications, bids and public engagement fora. You will be equipped to take approaches that are peer-informed, making effective use of technologies, and informed by international, national drivers and contexts relevant to your subject/discipline.
The programme is distinctive owing to the dual focus on developing expertise in both subject/discipline teaching and research in Higher Education and the close links that have been crafted with the knowledge, skills and behaviours of the Academic Professional Apprenticeship standard, phases 2 and 3 of the Vitae Researcher Development Framework and the knowledge, skills and values of the UK Professional Standards Framework for Teaching and Supporting Learning. The programme is accredited by the Higher Education Academy and therefore students that successfully complete the teaching development modules are recognised through the award of Fellowship.
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Entry Requirements
Who is the course for: Keele University staff with at least a first degree for whom academic practice (teaching and/or research) is a key part of their role. For most lecturers, participation is mandatory as attendance and completion is a probationary requirement of their contract.
Proof of level 2 (or equilvalent) english and maths will need to be supplied during the application stage. Where this is a problem applicants are asked to contact us.
Participants need to have a teaching mentor (to be allocated by a line manager) and active support from their Head of School or line manager.
Participants must also be engaged in 125 hours of teaching related activity during the first year, of which 25 hours must be with students in the classroom and at least 10 hours spread through Semester 1 (delivery will consist principally of lectures, seminars and tutorials, but may also combine elements of on-line delivery. Teaching-related activity may include preparation, assessment, course materials development, attendance at team and programme meetings, course reviews, or any other activity relevant to teaching).
Lastly, most participants will be funded through the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) where eligibility is met. In the instances where participants do not meet the eligibility criteria set out by the ESFA (based on recent UK/EEA residency requirements), a near identical pathway is offered (funded by the University). Students will be informed of which pathway they are registered to when they are formally accepted onto the programme.
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Course content
Teaching Reflectively in Higher Education, EDU 40128, Year One, 30 Credits
Delivered in Semester 1, Year 1
This module instils principles and techniques of reflective practice that will help successful graduates to become resourceful and critical developers of teaching and learning in higher education learning contexts. The module will develop a critical rationale for practice that is grounded in theoretically informed understanding, experience gained from reflection on critical incidents, professional values and policy contexts.
Design and Development in Higher Education, EDU 40129, Year, 30 Credits
Delivered in Semester 2, Year 1
This module helps teachers bring their teaching practice (skills, knowledge and values) up to descriptor 2 of the UK Professional Standards Framework and provides the opportunity to explore the process of designing, implementing and evaluating the introduction of a pedagogical approach in practice. They do this by developing a critical rationale for practice in the context of both general and discipline-specific educational theory, communities of practice, a range of policy contexts, exploring their own practice in relation to technology enhanced learning and the potential contribution technology can make to learning and teaching in HE.
Delivered in Semester 1, Year 2
Delivered in Semester 2, Year 2
PROGRESSION MODULE:
Action Research Project, EDU-40017, 60 Credits
Delivered in Semester 1 & 2, Year 3
The action research module is the capstone of the degree that can be progressed onto after successful completion of the above modules. Students identify an area of practice and plan, undertake and submit a piece of action research demonstrating their development as reflective practitioners, curriculum developers, and pedagogical researchers.
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Teaching and assessment
The programme is led and delivered by a core, multidisciplinary team of tutors with many years’ experience designing and delivering similar programmes. The team has complementary strengths including specialisms in teaching innovation, education for sustainable development, teaching with technology, research supervision, creative writing and critical pedagogy. All of the team are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy and active researchers. In addition to the core team, there are numerous expert contributors from Keele staff and externals with national and international expertise who contribute to the programme.
These meetings are set up at the beginning of the student's enrolment on the programme. They take place between the student, mentor and tutor and are expected to be held 3-4 times per year during the four core modules. The 20% off the job document (which is supplied on enrolment and should be updated by the student each week they are registered to the course) is required to be brought to each of these meetings and stored on file.
At the end of studies, once confirmed for gateway, the endpoint assessment takes place with the support of an endpoint assessor. The endpoint assessment consists of three elements:
- Teaching route: observation of teaching, portfolio, professional discussion with external.
- Research route: presentation at conference, portfolio, professional discussion with external.
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Additional costs
Additional costs for textbooks, inter-library loans, photocopying, printing, and potential overdue library fines.
No other additional costs for this postgraduate programme are anticipated.
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FAQs
I previously completed credits on the MA Learning and Teaching in Higher Education/MA Higher Education Practice and would now like to take further credits to build on my qualification - is this possible?
Yes, please contact us to further discuss this option.
Is it possible to Recognise Prior Learning (RPL) towards the Academic Professional Apprenticeship?
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), formerly known as Accreditation of Prior Learning, is the process by which applicants of all ages and backgrounds offset their experiences and achievements against elements of a programme. It is a mechanism to enable the succesful completion of University qualifications and follows the principle that students should not duplicate previous learning. The Academic Professional Apprenticeship will consider RPL applications, and further guidance can be accessed via the University RPL webpages.
Do I have to attend every session?
Yes. Funding requirements state that students are required to attend all sessions. Where absence is more than four consecutive weeks, this is classed as a break in learing, and will be shared with Keele Human Resources (as your employer) and also the Apprenticeship Team.
What are the benefits to me in completing an Academic Professional Apprenticeship?
The apprenticeship aims to develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours that will equip you to fully deliver higher education teaching and undertake research to support the development and dissemination of knowledge in a subject/discipline, including opportunities to engage in research and scholarship around teaching and learning in HE.
The allocation of protected time for you will help to facilitate high levels of meaningful engagement in early CPD activity. The apprenticeship offers oppotunities for a wide array of inputs through both on the job and off the job training.
The apprenticeship standards explains that apprentices will be co-developed through their job role and an associated skills development programme. Apprentice skills are honed through 80% on the job training and 20% off the job training through the APA.