Recruiting tutors to specialist modules in the School of Computing and Communications at the Open University

Project leader(s): David McDade
Theme: Other
Faculty: STEM
Status: Current
Dates: November 2022 to December 2023

Within the School of Computing and Communications (C&C), recent updates to the curriculum have highlighted issues around 'skills gaps' within the school and the impact this is having on tutor recruitment. The school has sought recently to address this by offering training in specialist areas in a bid to increase the expertise of the AL community. Blackmore & Blackwell (2003, p. 23) state that ‘Staff expertise is the most important asset in a university; without it literally nothing can be achieved’.

An example of this is the new R60 Cyber Security qualification. Focused training has been offered to tutors wishing to teach on modules TM256: Cyber Security¹ and TM359: Systems Penetration Testing². This was planned by Staff Tutors within the school (in conjunction with the Director of Teaching) and delivered online using computing vendor qualifications: Cisco Cyber Security Essentials and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH v11). This has allowed tutors to upskill into areas of cyber security. It has allowed tutors to develop confidence in applying for cyber security related modules, whilst gaining industry recognised professional certification. It has also allowed the school to meet (and extend) the quotas for high demand modules.

The main aim of this project is to identify strategies that have been successful in developing the capabilities of existing ALs to support students in specialist curriculum areas.

References:

Blackmore, P. and Blackwell, R. 2003. “Academic roles and relationships”. In Towards strategic staff development in higher education, Edited by: Blackwell, R. and Blackmore, P. 16–28. Maidenhead, UK: SRHE and Open University Press.

¹TM256: Cyber Security

²TM359: Systems Penetration Testing