Continuing professional development using a teaching standards framework

There are a number of professional development frameworks that will help you improve the quality of your teaching, as well as enhance the learning experience of your students. In particular, we put forward the following three frameworks which can be used by academic staff to assess and reflect on the quality of their teaching, and to guide their professional and personal development.

1. Australian University Teaching and Criteria Standards Framework Links to an external site.
2. UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) Links to an external site. by AdvanceHE (previously known as the Higher Education Academy)
3. Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA Fellowship) Links to an external site.

The frameworks provide examples of standards of achievement and evidence that signal expected levels of performance at each career level. This makes each framework a helpful tool for performance and career planning, in that it can serve as a guide for sourcing and collecting evidence to substantiate professional expertise in the performance appraisal review process, or to support an application for promotion. The frameworks reflect the criteria and expectations of many Australian universities; however, they should be used only as a guide and as a source of information. Each institution will have its own criteria, expectations and standards of achievement at each promotional level, and academic staff should seek out their own institution’s teaching criteria, standards and requirements, as noted on the Australian University Teaching & Criteria & Standards website Links to an external site..

Review these three professional standards frameworks to reflect on and evaluate your practice and continuing professional development. Also, focus on your own institution’s promotions policy, guidelines and framework.