TEACH
TEACH is the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Scheme formally accredited by Advance HE (UK). It stands for Teaching Enhancement Accredited Certification of the Higher Education Academy (HEA). Through TEACH, Aga Khan University (AKU) can award Associate Fellowship (AFHEA) and Fellowship (FHEA) to faculty and those supporting teaching and learning at AKU and IIS (Institute of Ismaili Studies), who benchmark their teaching practice against the Professional Standards Framework (PSF) for teaching and learning in Higher Education (HE).
For more information about TEACH, read the Participant Handbook.
Background to the Advance HE (UK)
Launched in 2006, Advance HE's (formerly called, the Higher Education Academy-HEA) mission is to improve learning by raising the quality and status of teaching in higher education. Advance HE works with higher education providers and organizations to improve the professional experience of Higher Education teachers through the accreditation of educational development provision and professional recognition of teaching practice through Fellowships benchmarked against the UK Professional Standards Framework (PSF).
The PSF is the only globally recognised framework dedicated to supporting the development of teaching and learning staff in higher education. Upon achieving accreditation, subscribing institutions are granted the authority to award Fellowships to eligible staff in recognition of their continuing success in teaching and supporting learning. Professional recognition programmes serve as an international benchmark for teaching excellence. Accreditation reflects achievement and commitment to teaching and learning and is a sign of quality for students, teachers, and staff supporting teaching and learning.
AKU became Advance HE’s first strategic accredited partner in the developing world in 2018. In May 2022, TEACH CPD Scheme has been reaccredited till April 2026 after successfully completing the accreditation period of the first four years.
AKU was the first University in South Asia and East Africa to gain accreditation by Advance HE (UK). Although the AKU TEACH CPD scheme invites voluntary participation of the faculty; several UK and international institutions are aiming toward 100% of their staff gaining HEA Fellowship in recognition of their teaching standards.
To read more about the Accreditation.
Benefits of Fellowship
By applying to become a Fellow or Associate Fellow, you will have the opportunity to:
- Think deeply about and reflect on your teaching practice, thereby enhancing the quality and effectiveness of your work in teaching and supporting learning in higher education.
- Gain professional recognition for your role as a teacher and/or staff supporting teaching and learning activities within the higher education context that is increasingly recognised by international institutions.
- Benchmark your practice against professional standards and sector expectations.
- In gaining recognition, you will be entitled to use the respective post-nominal letters (AFHEA, FHEA) as a recognized qualification of your professional practice in teaching in higher education.
- Identify and celebrate your strengths and achievements through reflecting on your experience.
- Demonstrate your commitment to teaching, learning, and the student experience, through engagement in a practical process that encourages research, reflection and professional development.
- Demonstrate your teaching effectiveness that enables those eligible to join the prestigious Haile T. Debas Teachers’ Academy recognising teaching excellence and teaching leadership. For details on the Teachers’ Academy and its eligibility criteria, please visit our website
HEA Fellows at AKU
As of May 2022, there are around 156,8660 HEA fellows in over 106 countries around the world. This includes a pool of 80 AKU and IIS faculty and staff involved in supporting teaching and learning who run the TEACH peer-led scheme to mentor and assess other faculty to gain HEA Fellowship. Details of the fellows are available in the Handbook.
Who should apply?
In order to proceed with your fellowship application through TEACH CPD Scheme, you must have completed any ONE of the following flagship programmes offered by the QTL_net.
- Teaching and Learning Enhancement Workshop (TLEW)
- Rethinking Teaching (RTT) workshop
- Online Teaching in Higher Education (OTHE)
You must also attend TEACH Webinars offered twice a year in the months of March and September.
Watch this video by the pioneer members of AKU Fellows explaining about the TEACH and benefits of gaining this Fellowship.
