For Senior Fellows, a Professional Conversation complements and expands on the evidence in the written application.
The purpose of the PC
The Professional Conversation (PC) enables you to discuss with the panel, using examples from your practice, how you meet the requirements of Descriptor 3 (D3) of the Professional Standards Framework 2023 (PSF 2023).
The panel will already have reviewed the written component of your application: this conversation lets them explore some parts in more detail and help you address gaps in the evidence, if any. Areas that you have already amply evidenced in the written application won’t need to be part of the conversation.
Because the key characteristic of Senior Fellowship is the leadership or influence you have had on the practice of those who teach and/or support high quality learning, the panel may ask you questions that invite you to:
- talk about how you put your philosophy of teaching and learning into practice;
- highlight your sustained impact on colleagues and their learning and teaching practice (see PSF D3.1);
- explain how you shape the student learning experience through this leadership and/or influence;
- give further evidence of practice that extends significantly beyond direct teaching and/or direct support for learning (PSF D3.3).
We aim to provide a collegial space for you and the panel to discuss learning and teaching leadership and practice, and to minimize any suggestion of an ‘interview’. You are encouraged to have a practice PC with your mentor, prior to the official PC.
How the PC works
The PC will run for 30-45 minutes via video meeting with three reviewers, including one external reviewer.
The conversation is recorded: this is to meet Advance HE quality assurance requirements, allowing an external moderator to review the panel procedures and judgments and assure the quality of evidence elicited.
The PC will usually begin by the panel introducing themselves and asking you to introduce yourself and briefly explain the work that you do, expanding on your written context statement.
You will have time towards the end of the PC to provide any further information that you feel may be relevant, or to ask questions.
Following the PC, the lead reviewer facilitates a discussion between the panel members and collates their feedback into the overall written feedback that you as the applicant receive.