Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), the Times Higher Education (THE) University of the Year for 2023, has had its 1,000th staff member awarded an AdvanceHE Fellowship.
An AdvanceHE Fellowship demonstrates a commitment to professionalism and provides recognition of practice, impact and leadership in teaching and learning. Fellowships are awarded to those who teach and support learning in higher education, based on extensive evidence of personal professional practice that meet the requirements of the Professional Standards Framework, the rigorous standards framework for the higher education sector.
Since launching its AdvanceHE accredited scheme in 2013, ARU has reached the 1,000 milestone with Fellowships across four categories – Associate Fellowship, Fellowship, Senior Fellowship and Principal Fellowship – thanks to a significant and sustained investment in its staff. The scheme is co-delivered by ARU’s Anglia Learning and Teaching department, the School of Education and the School of Medicine.
Alex Moseley, Head of ARU Learning and Teaching, said: “The whole team at ARU is thrilled with this achievement, especially as it is something just a handful of higher education providers across the whole of the UK have accomplished; we are in good company. Going the extra mile to support students throughout their learning journey with us is at the heart of our university’s mission, and we are deeply committed to developing and enhancing this practice. There are now 1,000 more reasons to be proud of the teaching at ARU and excited about our students’ future outcomes.”
Alongside AdvanceHE, ARU was recently awarded the highest possible award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). The Gold ranking, which places ARU inside the top 22% of higher education providers alongside Russell Group universities University of Cambridge, University of Oxford and the University of Warwick, certifies that student experience and outcomes are typically outstanding.
ARU’s course content and delivery, learning environment and academic support was rated as outstanding, with the TEF report citing “innovative and highly effective course design and content that inspires students to actively engage and commit to their learning”.
Pawel Slobodzian, a Computer Science student at ARU, said: “I left full time employment as I wanted more from life, so I initially joined ARU to study a foundation year in Computer Science. I am now in my first year of my undergraduate degree, and the teaching and support I have received in such a short space of time has been incredible. Not only have I been able to develop my subject knowledge, but also my real-life skills, industry experience and the entrepreneurial insight needed to succeed in life.”
Pawel notes that his relationship with his lecturers has nurtured his confidence and curiosity within his studies: “Some of my lecturers have now become my mentors and actively invest their time to help me develop my skills for my course but also give me opportunities to enhance my learning through external competitions, like Sync the City. They have even helped me find employment in a field that is related to my studies.”
