Programme Specification for the 2025/6 academic year
PGCert Academic Professional (part-time pathway)
1. Programme Details
| Programme name | PGCert Academic Professional (part-time pathway) | Programme code | PCT2EDUEDU07 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study mode(s) | Academic year | 2025/6 | |
| Campus(es) | Streatham (Exeter) |
NQF Level of the Final Award | 7 (Masters) |
2. Description of the Programme
The Academic Professional part-time pathway is designed to support the development of your existing skills and knowledge to become a more effective academic and professional in your department, in the University, and within national and international contexts. The programme addresses issues associated with teaching, research and scholarship, academic citizenship (including leadership) and administration. It provides political, social and theoretical frameworks through which to understand these issues better, and the programme content is firmly grounded in the demands and practicalities faced by academic professionals engaged in teaching or supporting learning, and undertaking scholarship and/or research at the University of Exeter.
Successful completion of the Academic Professional part-time pathway leads to a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, which is awarded with recognition as both a University of Exeter ASPIRE Fellow and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). This is important for academic career development, and for our individual and organisational reputation as perceived by students and the higher education community. This also speaks directly to the ‘Valuing Educators’ strand of the 2019-2025 Education Strategy where an indicator of success is that ‘Our staff will be recognised as innovators and leaders in education, for example by Fellowships of Advance HE)…’ The programme is run on behalf of the University, for its staff, by academic colleagues in the Graduate School of Education, in conjunction with key colleagues from the wider university.
The Academic Professional part-time pathway has been designed with flexibility to enable colleagues on fractional (<0.8 FTE) and/or fixed-term contracts (<18 months) to take this professional development and accreditation opportunity.
The Academic Professional part-time pathway:
- Enables you to analyse your contribution to the University of Exeter, within a context of institutional strategies, and a higher education sector that is changing rapidly
- Draws on theoretical and empirical evidence about effective academic practice
- Provides assessment tasks tailored to your professional interests and developmental needs
- Encourages you to engage in dialogue with colleagues both within your discipline and College, but also across the University, in order to develop areas of practice particularly relevant to your role(s).
3. Educational Aims of the Programme
The aims of the Academic Professional part-time pathway are:
- To provide an inclusive group environment and ethos, through peer dialogue and analysis of literature, which promotes analytical reflection on and enhancement of your academic practice
- To enable you to develop the organisational and transferable skills and confidence central to professional autonomy in a research-intensive university
- To enable you to engage critically with the areas of activity, knowledge and values detailed in the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) for teaching and supporting learning in higher education
- To support your ability to define and evaluate complex issues in higher education, drawing on national and international perspectives, through appropriate literature.
4. Programme Structure
The Academic Professional part-time pathway is a 1-2 year part-time programme of study at National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 7 (as confirmed against the FHEQ). This programme is closely linked to the professional development of colleagues on fractional and/or fixed-term contracts and so can be completed in 12-24 months depending on individual progress and circumstances.
Interim Awards
You may exit the programme having achieved either 30 credits from module EFPM900 or having achieved 30 credits from EFPM902, and so you would receive a transcript for 30 credits at level 7. This happens sometimes, for example, where someone leaves the university midway through the programme, or if they do not need to take the full programme for their PDP. FHEA will only be awarded upon successful completion of the programme in its entirety.
5. Programme Modules
The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.
https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/studyinformation/modules/?prog=education
Stage 1
60 credits of compulsory modules, 0 credits of optional modules
Compulsory Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| EFPM900 | The Contemporary Academic in Context | 30 | Yes |
| EFPM902 | Creating Effective Learning in Higher Education | 30 | Yes |
6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
Intended Learning Outcomes
A: Specialised Subject Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
1. Analyse the wider context (policy, economic, societal, technological, legal, cultural and environmental) in which higher education operates, and recognise the implications for professional practice. | 1. Lectures, peer discussions, readings and resources in ELE, tutorials, and quizzes. 2. Lectures, demonstrations in class, group tasks, peer observations and dialogue, and other directed activities in professional contexts. 3. Lectures, group tasks, peer discussions, and readings and resources in ELE. | 1. In-class poster presentation (formative); and an extended project on an aspect of academic practice (summative). 2. In-class triad presentation and feedback to peers (formative); and teaching portfolio (summative). 3. In-class triad presentation (formative); and teaching portfolio (summative). |
Intended Learning Outcomes
B: Academic Discipline Core Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
4. Analyse, synthesise and use critical thinking in the conduct of research and/or scholarship in academic practice. | 4. Lectures, peer discussions, readings and resources in ELE. 5. Lectures, group tasks, tutorials, readings and resources in ELE, and other directed activities in professional contexts. 6. Lectures, demonstrations in class, resources in ELE, and other directed activities for professional development. | 4. In-class poster presentation (formative); and an extended project on an aspect of academic practice (summative). 5. In-class triad presentation and feedback to peers (formative); and teaching portfolio (summative). 6. OneFile tasks (formative); in-class triad presentation (formative); and teaching portfolio (summative). |
Intended Learning Outcomes
C: Personal/Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
7. Implement the principles and methods of critically reflective practice and evidence-informed approaches to enhance your own professional development and academic practice. | 7. Lectures, individual tasks, group tasks, tutorials, readings and resources in ELE and OneFile. 8. Lectures, group tasks, readings and resources in ELE, and directed activities in professional contexts. 9. Lectures, individual tasks, group tasks, tutorials, readings and resources in ELE and OneFile. | 7. In-class poster presentation (formative); in-class triad presentation (formative); extended project on an aspect of academic practice (summative); and teaching portfolio (summative). 8. In-class poster presentation (formative); in-class triad presentation (formative); and teaching portfolio; (summative). 9. In-class poster presentation (formative); in-class triad presentation (formative); an extended project on an aspect of academic practice (summative); and teaching portfolio (summative). |
7. Programme Regulations
Credit
The programme consists of 60 credits at NQF level 7.
The pass mark for award of credit in PG modules (NQF level 7) is 50%.
Assessment and Award
The marking criteria and UKPSF are made available on ELE and in the programme handbook. The programme team will work with you on these criteria in module assessment preparation sessions, and the UKPSF is integrated into all taught sessions and formative assignments.
The two 30-credit modules’ summative assessments for the Academic Professional part-time pathway are marked on a passed/not yet passed basis.
In order to gain the PGCert with FHEA, you must have passed both modules.
If you complete the Academic Professional part-time pathway and wish to undertake further modules in the Graduate School of Education, you can automatically progress to a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) or Master of Arts in Education (MA in Education) via the Accreditation of Prior Certified Learning procedure without having to complete the usual application process or incur the usual costs. This exempts you from completing 60 credits of either programme.
Classification
The Academic Professional part-time pathway is marked on a passed/not yet passed basis. Percentage marks and award classifications are not used.
Classification
Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook. Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.
8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning
Programme team and Academic Lead support:
Each participant is allocated a Programme Mentor who can meet with you in person, via telephone or skype to monitor progress on the programme and integrate your programme experience with your employment. You can also make an appointment to see individual teaching staff and the programme director.
Department support:
Your progress on the programme is closely integrated with the University’s professional development policies and practices. In the case of early career academic staff this integration occurs though the Exeter Academic probationary period. For other members of staff for whom programme participation may be relevant, this integration occurs though professional development plans developed as part of the Professional Development and Review (PDR) process.
Programme handbook:
The programme handbook, and other supportive resources, are made available through the programme’s ELE page. The handbook and ELE page are introduced to you in the taught sessions.
Library:
You are also able to access the library on campus or through the electronic library pages. The St Luke’s campus has a library specialising in education. You will be given advice about accessing further reading, relevant journals and databases during modules, and will be supported in this by the Academic Professional Programme team.
Programme pages on ELE: https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=8066.
9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning
Please refer to the University Academic Policy and Standards guidelines regarding support for students and students' learning.
10. Admissions Criteria
Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the Undergraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Postgraduate applicants must satisfy the Postgraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Specific requirements required to enrol on this programme are available at the respective Undergraduate or Postgraduate Study Site webpages.
The Academic Professional part-time pathway is for staff on fractional (<0.8 FTE) and/or fixed-term (<18 months) contracts, taken alongside your academic work in your discipline. It needs to be started as part of new Lecturer probation (E&S), or completed within an agreed fixed timeframe as part of new Lecturer probation (E&R). Normally, other Academic Professional part-time pathway participants are members of part-time/fixed-term staff at the University of Exeter in other roles and job families, who have elected to join the programme and had this intention endorsed by their College, department and/or service.
Applicants will almost all hold a good first degree (and most are likely also to hold a PhD/DPhil). However, in the case of participants sponsored by their work unit and not in possession of a good first degree, admission to the programme is considered if there is sufficient evidence of experience of working in an academic or educational setting at an appropriate level.
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) procedures that meet national standards are also available; this is a process whereby applicants can be exempt from some parts of the programme by recognition of your learning from previous experiences and achievements (which can include the University of Exeter). APL can take the form of either submitting pre-existing credits (APCL) or details of relevant previous experience (APEL), which are taken into account before starting the programme in an initial needs assessment completed by the programme team. Please note: the maximum number of credits that can used for APL towards this programme is 30 credits (at level 7), therefore the other elements of the programme will still need to be completed.
As with all taught programmes, you may be entitled to interrupt your programme, for example for medical treatment, parental or personal reasons.
Programme delivery is through taught sessions on the university campuses, ELE resources, and through independent study.
11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards
Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.
The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.
14. Awarding Institution
University of Exeter
15. Lead College / Teaching Institution
Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS)
16. Partner College / Institution
Partner College(s)
Not applicable to this programme
Partner Institution
Not applicable to this programme.
17. Programme Accredited / Validated by
71
18. Final Award
PGCert Academic Professional (part-time pathway)
19. UCAS Code
Not applicable to this programme.
20. NQF Level of Final Award
7 (Masters)
21. Credit
| CATS credits | 60 |
ECTS credits | 30 |
|---|
22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group
23. Dates
| Origin Date | 17/06/2016 |
Date of last revision | 09/12/2019 |
|---|
