We work with individuals and institutions in higher education (HE) to provide students with a high-quality learning experience. This is why we manage and lead the development of the Professional Standards Framework (PSF), a globally recognised framework for benchmarking success within HE teaching and learning support.
A comprehensive set of professional standards and guidelines for everyone involved in teaching and supporting learning in HE, the PSF can be applied to personal development programmes at an individual, institutional or national level to improve teaching quality and celebrate success.
The Framework
The Professional Standards Framework 2023 (PSF 2023) for teaching and supporting learning in higher education provides a comprehensive set of professional standards and guidelines for all those who are involved in teaching and supporting learning in higher education. The PSF 2023 can be used by individuals to plan their development and evidence their practice to achieve professional recognition, by institutions as a basis for initial and continuing professional development and recognition programmes, and at a national level to improve teaching quality and celebrate success.
The PSF 2023 acknowledges the wide variety of local and global contexts in which higher education operates, and the diverse practices and roles that contribute to high-quality learning. The Professional Standards Framework (PSF) 2023 consists of two components: Descriptors and Dimensions.
PSF Descriptors
The PSF Descriptors (PSF, p6) are a set of criteria statements (referred to as Descriptor ‘criteria’). These define the key characteristics of four broad categories of practice. Incorporating the Dimensions, each Descriptor identifies the extent of practice required to meet it and recognises the variety of practice and roles undertaken by professionals who teach and/or support learning. Each Descriptor consists of an introduction and a set of three criteria statements. The Dimensions of the Framework (PSF 2023, p4) are arranged as three related sets of five Professional Values, five forms of Core Knowledge and five Areas of Activity.
- Professional Values (V1-5): underpin all forms of Core Knowledge and Areas of Activity. They are the foundation of professional practice.
- Core Knowledge (K1-5): informed by the Professional Values, representing key forms of knowledge required to undertake the Areas of Activity. There are multiple and diverse forms of knowledge which are connected to and shaped by communities and contexts.
- Areas of Activity (A1-5): bring together the Professional Values and forms of Core Knowledge, showing the essential activities that support delivery of effective practice.
Fellowship
The PSF Descriptors aligns with Advance HE recognition to four categories of fellowship that can be achieved by individuals with appropriate experience and practice in in higher education.
Accreditation
Accreditation services are also available to Advance HE member institutions. This enables higher education professionals to undertake Accredited Provision such as taught professional development courses or CPD Schemes at their own institution that anchor the PSF and be awarded Fellowships in recognition of their effective and inclusive teaching and/or support of learning learning.