Network of Quality, Teaching and Learning

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) 2023 for teaching and learning in Higher Education (HE).

Applications using the PSF 2011 framework will no longer be accepted after September 2024. All resources have been updated to focus on PSF 2023. Applicants who plan to submit their applications by the end of September 2024 and need information or resources related to PSF 2011 should contact teach.tlnet@aku.edu.

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 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.

Discover more about the Accreditation (2018) and Reaccreditation (2022) news!

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 (AFEA, FHEA) as recognised qualification of your profession practice in teaching 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 and the IIS

As of July 2024, there were some 190,000 HEA fellows in over 100 countries around the world. This includes a pool over 120 AKU faculty and staff involved in faculty development and about 27 IIS faculty members (you can find the updated list of fellows here until January 2024). This group supports the TEACH peer-led scheme to mentor faculty, as ‘Critical Friends’, and act as Assessors for other faculty to gain Fellowship.

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.