Edinburgh Teaching Award (EdTA)
The Edinburgh Teaching Award (EdTA) is a recognised route you can follow to work toward the different categories of Fellowship awarded by the Higher Education Academy (HEA).
Becoming a Fellow of the HEA provides national recognition of your commitment to professionalism in teaching and learning in higher education. The Edinburgh Teaching Award is open to all staff within the University who have roles which relate to teaching and/or supporting learning.
How to gain the award
To complete a level of the award you would complete a submission which demonstrates your achievement against the relevant descriptor from the UK Professional Standards Framework. The UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) is a national framework for comprehensively recognising and benchmarking teaching and learning support roles within Higher Education.
UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF)
Quick comparative chart of descriptors of the UK PSF
Link to Dimensions of the UKPSF Framework provided by Advance HE
- Edinburgh Teaching Award Category 1 = Associate Fellowship of the HEA
- Edinburgh Teaching Award Category 2 = Fellowship of the HEA
- Edinburgh Teaching Award Category 3 = Senior Fellowship of the HEA
- Edinburgh Teaching Award Category 4 = Principal Fellowship of the HEA
The final submission for each category of the award is through a reflective blog.
Participation in the EdTA (Edinburgh Teaching Award) involves engaging in continuing professional development designed to give you rich opportunities to reflect on teaching and assessment practices in ways that are meaningful and relevant for your particular role and career stage.
If you are unsure which category of the Edinburgh Teaching Award would suit you then the descriptions within the UKPSF (see link above) are a good guide.
Support through mentoring
The EdTA is a mentored approach. You are allocated a mentor at the start of your journey. The current list of mentors working with the Edinburgh Teaching Award can be downloaded below:
We also provide a handbook for those who act as mentors:
EdTA Mentors' Handbook (MS Word version)
EdTA Mentors' Handbook (PDF version)
How to apply
Two new cohorts leading to all four different categories of the Edinburgh Teaching Award (accredited to Associate Fellowship, Fellowship, Senior Fellowship and Principal Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy) each academic year; one normally in November and the other normally in March.
Deciding which category of fellowship may be most appropriate
Why not try this Advance HE Fellowship Category Tool before emailing your interest. It might help you define which category you should be aiming for.
Getting in touch with us
Email your interest in joining an Edinburgh Teaching Award cohort to:
Edinburgh Teaching Award Resources
Participants, Mentors and Panel Members will need to refer to the following guides and resources:
Software for participants (WordPress)
Once you have enrolled on the EdTA you will be registered on the EdTA WordPress site. You can then access it using the link below:
Link here to access your EdTA WordPress space (EASE log-in required)
EdTA WordPress Guidance
How to access your EdTA wordpress site (voice over video instructions - MediaHopper)
How to access your EdTA wordpress site (written instructions PDF)
How to edit your EdTA wordpress site (voice over video instructions - MediaHopper)
How to edit your EdTA wordpress site (written instructions PDF)
How to request access for your referees for your supporting statements (written instructions PDF)
Handbook
EdTA Handbook (update October 2021) for participants (PDF version)
EdTA Handbook (update October 2021) for participants (MS Word version)
Reading lists
Links are to Resource Lists within the University of Edinburgh Library, and EASE login is required.
Edinburgh Teaching Award reading list - Category 1
Edinburgh Teaching Award reading list - Category 2
Submission dates for registered participants
The next submission dates (and Adjudication Panel dates) in 2022 and 2023 for current EdTA participants are as follows:
- Submission date 7 July 2022 (Adjudication Panel: 6 September 2022)
- Submission date 13 October 2022 (Adjudication Panel: 17 November 2022)
- Submission date 2 February 2023 (Adjudication Panel: 7 March 2023)
- Submission date 4 May 2023 (Adjudication Panel: 6 June 2023)
- Submission date 6 July 2023 (Adjudication Panel: 31 August 2023)
- Submission date 12 October 2023 (Adjudication Panel: 16 November 2023)
Appeals Procedure for Edinburgh Teaching Award
The overall procedure for how to make an appeal following an adjudication panel is shown in our EdTA appeals procedure document:
Edinburgh Teaching Award appeals procedure document (PDF)
If a participant does wish to appeal, the following form should be used:
Edinburgh Teaching Award Appeal Form (MS Word)
About the CPD Framework for Learning and Teaching
The EdTA is part of the University’s Continuing Professional Development Framework for Learning and Teaching. This Framework is designed to provide all staff involved in teaching and supporting learning with rich opportunities to reflect on and develop their practice throughout their careers.
The Framework as a whole is accredited by AdvanceHE (formerly the Higher Education Academy). The Framework encompasses a range of credit bearing courses and programmes as well as non-credit bearing CPD opportunities.