Principal Fellowship is awarded to professionals who demonstrate they meet Descriptor Four of the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF). Despite an expanding evidence base that has explored the impact of Fellowships aligned to the UKPSF, there is currently no published literature focusing explicitly on the impact of Principal Fellowships on the individual or on the enhancement of teaching and learning.
Advance HE sponsored the University of Plymouth to conduct research with Principal Fellows globally to assess the impact of their award on their role, individual identity and career, as well as the impact on the institutional enhancement of teaching and learning. This report details the findings of this research which took place between August 2021 and December 2021.
Some of the key findings include:
The primary motivations underpinning an application for Principal Fellowship were: 1) to critically reflect on practice; 2) to raise their profile as a leader of teaching and learning within their institution; 3) to enhance their profile beyond their institution; and 4) to encourage the recording of successes.
- 45.72% reported that they felt Principal Fellowship had assisted their careers.
- 74.42% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that being awarded Principal Fellowship increased their confidence as a strategic leader of teaching and/or student learning.
- The qualitative commentary from the survey and the interview data aligned, revealing considerable frustrations that Principal Fellows were not used more strategically by institutions.
- There was agreement across the survey and interview data that Principal Fellows could gain most traction beyond their institution, with 64.31% of survey respondents noting greater impact outside their institution.
Access the report below.
