Advance HE Fellowships are professional recognition for staff who teach or support learning in higher education. Applying for Advance HE recognition is at no cost to staff. Technical staff who are involved in teaching and supporting learning are eligible and encouraged to apply for these Fellowships. There are four levels that can be applied for depending on your level of experience:
- Associate Fellow (AFHEA)
- Fellow (FHEA)
- Senior Fellow (SFHEA)
- Principal Fellow (PFHEA)
These fellowships demonstrate commitment to professionalism in teaching and learning against the Professional Standards Framework (PSF), offering benefits such as enhanced professional recognition and opportunities for reflection and development.
We are pleased to announce that another talented technical professional has recently been recognised for their contributions to teaching and learning at Kent. Qi Zheng is a Technical Specialist in Electronic Engineering within Technical Services, supporting the School of Engineering, Mathematics and Physics. Qi has successfully completed her Advance HE Fellow application and has recently been awarded Fellow. Congratulations! Here is what Qi had to say about the achievement and her reflection of the process.
“I was inspired after joining the Developing Learning and Teaching for Technicians (DLT) workshops. With further guidance from the Technical Teaching Recognition Programme (TTRP), and lots of support from the Route to Recognition for Experienced Staff (RRES), applying felt like the right next step. I eventually gained my Fellowship through the RRES route.
Through the DLT programme, TTRP, and conversations with the RRES team, I was able to match my experience, supporting labs, guiding students, preparing learning environments, and helping with projects to the expectations of Descriptor 2 (Advance HE Fellow). The alignment became clear once I reviewed the level descriptors.
It took reflection and time, but the process was very well supported. The RRES guidance, templates, and retreat sessions made everything clear, and the technician networks gave me confidence. It was challenging in a positive way.
The Fellowship recognises the teaching and support work technicians do, builds confidence, and strengthens my professional profile. It also supports future career development by showing a clear commitment to high-quality practice in higher education.
My advice to other technical staff who are considering applying is to go for it. Much of your everyday work already maps to PSF 2023, even if technicians don’t realise it. Join supportive programmes like DLT, TTRP, or RRES, gather your evidence, and use the help available. It’s a rewarding process and a great way to reflect on your practice.”