Are you an aspiring National Teaching Fellow (NTF)?
Are you an aspiring National Teaching Fellow?
Introduction
In our recent Wonkhe article, Sally Everett, Debbie Holley and I sought to draw attention to how traditional HE role categories of ‘academic’ and ‘professional services’ can result in structural inequalities for teaching and learning professionals employed on professional service contracts in terms of opportunities to apply for the National Teaching Fellowship scheme (NTFS).
It is my experience that many third-space practitioners may be employed on professional service contracts. As such, Learning Developers, Academic Librarians and Learning Technologists could be amongst those who may find it particularly challenging to secure institutional endorsement for a NTFS application.
In addition to teaching and learning professionals employed on professional services contracts, Advance HE equal opportunities monitoring data highlights several additional underrepresented groups in terms of institutional NTFS nominations. These are:
· Applicants from an ethnic minority background
· Applicants with a disability
· Applicants working in college-based providers
· Applicants employed on a part-time basis
As such there may also be third space practitioners who will be affected by wider intersectional inequalities.
The In It Together project
Since 2021, the Committee for the Association of National Teaching Fellows (CANTF) has partnered with Advance HE to deliver the ‘In it together’ project. This project seeks to raise awareness of underrepresented groups amongst NTFS applicants and to offer more support for aspiring NTFS applicants from these groups.
One of the key outcomes from this project has been to launch a NTFS allyship scheme. This enables aspiring applicants to search for former NTFS winners from the forementioned underrepresented groups. To date over 50 NTFS winners have signed up and can support aspiring applicants through sharing their NTFS journeys along with tips for success.
More information about the NTFS Allyship Scheme is available via: https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/awards/teaching-excellence-awards/national-teaching-fellowship/allyship-scheme#Overview
You can access a searchable list of NTFS winners (with Allyship badge filter) via: https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/awards/teaching-excellence-awards/national-teaching-fellowship/winners
My NTFS journey
I have worked in the third space since 2007. During this time, my roles have included:
· Learning Development Tutor
· Learning Development Team Leader
· Interim Library Director
· Director of Learning and Teaching Excellence
I was also Co-Chair of the Association for Learning Development in Higher Education from 2016 – 2021.
My experience has mirrored the three key benefits for NTFS winners reported by Advance HE (2024, online):
· “Achieving a National Teaching Fellowship is widely recognised in higher education within the UK as well as internationally as a mark of quality”.
· “The award can help ‘open doors’ to new academic or career opportunities”.
· “Award winners join a national community of like-minded professionals who are passionate about teaching excellence”.
My promotion to Director of Learning and Teaching Excellence occurred after I was awarded a NTFS in 2020. Receiving a NTF enabled me to join the Committee for the Association of National Teaching Fellows in 2021 and as Deputy Diversity Officer which has provided brilliant opportunities for me to expand my professional network and participate in exciting new teaching and learning collaborations. I would therefore strongly encourage those working in the third space from underrepresented groups to make the very most of the opportunities afforded by the NTFS Allyship Scheme.
Get involved
We would welcome your suggestions for how the In It Together Working Group can further support aspiring third space practitioners from the underrepresented groups.
To share your thoughts and ideas please contact steve.briggs@beds.ac.uk
Thank you for reading – and we look forward to hearing from you.
