Academics from several Aotearoa New Zealand higher education institutions have collaborated to develop a new guide which helps HE staff in Aotearoa New Zealand apply for Fellowship awarded by Advance HE using the Professional Standards Framework.
The guide provides details on how to interpret the Dimensions of the Professional Standards Framework in an Aotearoa/New Zealand context, with references to appropriate legislation and regulations. The work aims to be more inclusive of the local context while maintaining the global recognition of the professional standards framework and the associated Fellowships.
Project lead, John Milne from Ako Aotearoa, New Zealand's National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence, said: “The expert group features 10 staff from six HE institutions, who developed the guide based on their experience of supporting Fellowship in Aotearoa New Zealand. The authors also span the HE sector, including universities, wānanga (traditional centres of learning) and institutes of technology and polytechnics.”
The new guide was endorsed by Advance HE’s Australasian Strategic Advisory Board – which includes representatives of all its 28 members in Australasia – in October 2020. This work began after Advance HE and Ako Aotearoa signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2018 to collaborate on Global Fellowships and Professional Standards.
Contributor Dr Mei Winitana (Ngāti Ruapani ki Waikaremoana, Te Atiawa ki Waiwhetu, he uri o ngā iwi katoa o te waka a Mataatua me Takitimu) of Ako Aotearoa, said: “Fellowship applicants will have more cultural context to help them reflect more deeply about what they do. This will help them create quality teaching and learning that is more likely to lead to success particularly for Māori students. Applicants are asked to consider how to blend Māori culture and communities into their work, including using place-based examples that recognise the Māori history and context of Aotearoa New Zealand.”
I am really grateful to the team for developing this guide. The New Zealand tertiary sector has always engaged strongly with the PSF, and has the fifth largest community of Fellows outside the UK.
"This guide will hopefully support more staff in Aotearoa New Zealand to apply and join the global community recognised for their successful educational practice.”Kathryn Harrison-Graves, Director of Membership and Accreditation at Advance HE
Helen Lomax, (Te Aitanga a Māhaki) Ako Aotearoa Director, said, “It is pleasing the guide is now well grounded in the Aotearoa New Zealand context as this will resonate more strongly with Kaiako or teachers. It’s a great example of the work Advance HE and Ako Aotearoa are doing together.”
Guide authors are: Associate Professor Vaughan Bidois (Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi), Dr Nell Buissink (Auckland University of Technology), Dr Cherie Chu-Fuluifaga (Victoria University of Wellington), Dr John Davies and Piki Diamond (Auckland University of Technology), Professor Lisa Emerson (Massey University), Associate Professor Meegan Hall (Victoria University of Wellington), Kamuka Pati (Unitec), Dr Mei Winitana (Ako Aotearoa) and John Milne (Ako Aotearoa).
Download Professional Standards Framework: Guide for Aotearoa New Zealand Applicants
Fellowship demonstrates a personal and institutional commitment to professionalism in learning and teaching in higher education. Across four categories, from Associate to Principal, Fellowship provides individuals with recognition of their practice, impact and leadership of teaching and learning. Find out more