The Institute of Educational Technology has developed OpenPAD, an institutional Professional and Academic Development scheme accredited by the Higher Education Academy, which will enable those who teach and directly support student learning in the Open University to gain HEA Fellowship status. OpenPAD is an open scheme and participants will be able to work at their own pace to complete a Practitioner Inquiry. A successful submission will lead to both an internal OpenPAD Fellowship and an HEA Fellowship at one of four levels: Associate Fellow, AFHEA; Fellow, FHEA; Senior Fellow SFHEA; Principal Fellow, PFHEA.
Details of the scheme which is initially available to Open University staff only can be found on the OpenPAD website at http://learn3.open.ac.uk/site/opad (staff login required).
The topics on the site are structured around the different elements of the UK Professional Standards Framework for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (UKPSF) and provide the background needed to help participants carry out their Practitioner Inquiries. Participants in the scheme will also have access to a mentor.