Prioritising IAD funding for direct applications to AdvanceHE

An outline of how IAD may be able to support a small number of direct application fees to AdvanceHE for Senior and Principal Fellow. Includes guidance on how University of Edinburgh staff can request such support and details on how applications will be considered by the IAD.

Historically, the Institute for Academic Development (IAD) has paid the direct application fees for a small number of University of Edinburgh colleagues each year who are applying directly to AdvanceHE to become Senior or Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. We have also provided comments on one draft of an application. Successful applicants were then expected to make some contribution to mentoring and/or assessing on the Edinburgh Teaching Award.

Given current budget constraints on the University and increasing interest in direct applications to AdvanceHE, we have introduced a prioritisation process for these applications going forward.

Prioritisation process for requesting support, and relevant deadlines

Deadlines for contacting the IAD: We will take requests for this IAD funding twice per year, either submit your request to us by November 30th 2024 or March 31st 2025. (Instructions on contacting us to make this request outlined below). 

Deadline for then submitting your Advance HE direct application: Senior or Principal Fellowship applications must then be submitted to AdvanceHE by 1st July 2025.  

To apply for funding please submit the answers to the following questions to velda.mccune@ed.ac.uk by one of the deadline dates:

  1. Do you wish to apply for Senior or Principal Fellow of AdvanceHE?
  2. Have you used the AdvanceHE Fellowship category tool and did you receive an outcome of Senior or Principal Fellow?
  3. Would you be willing to contribute 40 hours per year to mentoring and/or assessing on our Edinburgh Teaching Award for two years after a successful application? (Full training will be provided by the IAD). 
  4. Do you plan to set up a new School-based EdTA mentoring scheme?
  5. Do you have the support of your line manager to make this application to AdvanceHE and to mentor/assess on the Edinburgh Teaching Award following your award?
  6. Do you have time to prepare and submit your application by 1st July 2025?
  7. What University of Edinburgh School or University Service area are you based in?
  8. What are your main current roles relating to teaching and/or supporting learning? Do you have any new roles coming up in the near future?

We will then prioritise applications as follows:

  • Participants must answer YES to questions (1), (2) and (5). Then YES to either question (3) OR question (4).
  • No more than 1 application per University of Edinburgh School will be authorised in each funding round. Directors of Teaching will be asked to prioritise if there are multiple applications.
  • School/Services with fewer SFHEA and PFHEA will be prioritised.
  • Applicants with current or near future leadership roles relating to learning and teaching will be prioritised.

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