HEA fellowship is recognition of an academic's commitment to supporting good learning practice through demonstrably inclusive and effective teaching in their higher education context. It is an award that speaks to a real commitment to students and learning.
Dr Annette Loeseke shared “Completing the fellowship for the HEA made me reflect on my teaching experience in different international and interdisciplinary environments. Before joining Sheffield University Management School, I lectured in a liberal arts programme at an American university in Berlin. Putting together the required case studies and supporting examples (such as student feedback, teaching diaries, sample syllabi, and teaching material) helped me to explore how I developed my teaching to make learning more creative and experiential. For example, for an oral presentation, students experimented through role-play with oral formats such as podcast-like edutainment interviews, investigative interviews, or thought-provoking pro-and-contra debates. Rather than only presenting their findings, students explored different professional roles, helping them reflect on their positionality in debates and acknowledge how different perspectives may shape the production of knowledge and expertise across industries and society. “
Dr Loeseke continued “In the second case study, I reflect on integrating a field trip to Chatsworth House into a conversion cultural marketing module. A mystery shopping exercise aimed at supporting students in structuring their experience on-site and a conversation with two museum professionals encouraged students to engage with real-world challenges and explore career development options in the creative sector. Reflecting on my teaching experience and student feedback helped me better understand how students with various academic and cultural backgrounds learn and engage in tackling academic challenges.”
The process of attaining HEA fellowship offers academics an opportunity to reflect and consolidate their personal development.
Dr Gabriella Cioce added “I’ve been teaching since 2017. Yet, developing my application for the FHEA meant that I finally had the time to substantially reflect on the pedagogical theories and practices I adopt in my teaching, identifying strengths and opportunities for improvement. In my application, I developed four case studies showing how I successfully achieved student engagement and participation - as framed by Diana Laurilland and Paulo Freire. Specifically, I highlighted the value of high-tech teaching practices and game-based techniques to include, enchant and meet students’ hunger for engagement. I specifically claimed that these practices and techniques allow me to foster dialogue and set the environment for students to practise concepts and ideas. Moreover, I have also shown how reflecting on my teaching practice and accounting for students’ views and feedback have led me to improve my teaching and determine other activities that can enrich future students’ learning experiences (e.g., inviting a guest speaker from relevant organisations to my lectures).”
Senior Fellowship of the HEA is attained by individuals whose comprehensive understanding and effective practice provide a foundation from which they can lead and influence the learning and teaching practice of others, such as peers, colleagues and mentees who also support high-quality teaching.
Dr Martyn Griffin commented “Completing the senior fellowship for the HEA has been a challenging but rewarding experience. As part of the application, I was asked to put together four 600-word case studies about my teaching and reflect on what went well and what could have been improved. I was also asked to map and evidence my 15-year teaching experience against a competency framework that could show the breadth and depth of my knowledge (whilst providing evidence such as testimonials from students and recorded examples of my teaching). Overall, the HEA fellowship scheme has been an excellent opportunity to reflect on just how much teaching experience I have gathered over the years whilst also flagging up possibilities for developing further in the future. It has also introduced and forced me to think about alternative ways of teaching in the classroom that my students at the Management School will hopefully benefit from in the coming years.”
Associate Dean for Education, Professor Robert McMurray commented that "We are very proud of Annette, Gabriella and Martyn. Their achievements speak not only to their individual excellence, but also the School's commitment to providing the very best educational experience for our superb students”.
You can read more information about HEA Fellowship here.
