Priority areas

The 3 priority areas of the Higher Education Academy and MEDEV Subject Centre

The Subject Centre is funded through the Higher Education Academy (the Academy).  Part of our funding agreement with the Academy is that each Subject Centre, along with the project teams at the Academy, works towards the priorities of the Academy.

As part of an ongoing review of the future direction of the Academy there are three main priority areas emerging.  These priority areas are being discussed with a view to each being finalised and agreed in the forthcoming months.  It is important to stress at this time the following information will be subject to further refinement.

1. Better teaching

This priority area includes:

• UK Professional Standards Framework: professional recognition, accreditation of programmes; reward and recognition of teaching.
• Discipline and subject-based professional development for new and experienced staff.
• The impact of emerging pedagogies and developments in teaching and learning on continuing professional development (CPD) needs.
• Teaching innovation and pedagogy, including disseminating evidence informed practice and promoting expertise.
• Maximising student achievement and retention (including National Student Survey).
• National Teaching Fellowship Scheme.

2. Flexible learning

This priority area includes:

• New technologies: impact on and support for flexible learning.
• Credit frameworks: working with institutions/the sector (relevant to each country) as a contribution to work led by UUK, GuildHE and QAA.
• Inclusion embedded across all areas of work; the acceleration/growth of inclusive institutional cultures; anticipatory policies and practices vis-a-vis the needs of diverse student bodies.
• HEAR:  Work with the Burgess Group and UUK in relation to the Higher Education Achievement Report.

3. Graduate impact

This priority area includes:

• Differential degree attainment, (including inclusion, assessment, curriculum design issues):  Institutional support and work with the funders and ECU, according to different ethnic groups and gender.
• Equality and diversity: involving students and the broader public, in institutional policy development and equality impact assessments.
• Education for sustainability.
• Graduate/postgraduate employability:  specific support/projects for institutions and/or within the sector, particularly within the changed economic climate.