About the Professional Standards Framework 2023 (PSF 2023)

The Professional Standards Framework (PSF) has become a globally-recognised framework for benchmarking success within HE teaching and learning. It places emphasis on the need to adopt evidence-informed approaches and outcomes from research and scholarship to interrogate and enhance individual academic practice. The PSF offers a set of statements from which we can begin to interrogate, and subsequently enhance, our practice. The PSF has two key components:

Dimensions of Practice (Divided into three groups: Areas of Activity, Core Knowledge and Professional Values)
Descriptors (Associate Fellow D1; Fellow D2; Senior Fellow D3; Principal Fellow D4)

Dimensions of Practice

The fifteen Dimensions of Practice are divided into three groups:

V: Professional Values
K: Core Knowledge
A: Areas of Activity

The Dimensions are complementary to one another and should be considered holistically.

Descriptors - D1 to D3

The Descriptors draw on the fifteen Dimensions of the Framework to outline what we would need to demonstrate to be awarded the relevant fellowship category. Each Descriptor corresponds to a fellowship category: D1 Associate Fellowship; D2 Fellowship; D3 Senior Fellowship. It is important to remember that the categories are not intended to be viewed as a hierarchy; rather, they reflect the activities that we engage with in everyday practice.

Category of Fellowship	Expected evidence	Is this the right category for you?
Descriptor 1 (D1) - AFHEA	Some teaching and/or learning support responsibilities, typically undertaken with the assistance of more experienced teachers or mentors.	Associate Fellowship is suitable for you if your higher education teaching and/or support of learning practice enables you to evidence some PSF 2023 Dimensions.
Descriptor 2 (D2) - FHEA	Evidence of broad-based effectiveness in more substantive teaching and supporting learning role(s).	Fellowship is suitable for you if your teaching and/or supporting learning practice with higher education learners enables you to evidence depth and breadth across all PSF 2023 Dimensions
Descriptor 3 (D3) - SFHEA	Sustained record of effectiveness in relation to teaching and learning, incorporating for example co-ordination, support, supervision, management and/ or mentoring of others.	Senior Fellowship is suitable for you if you have a sustained record of leading or influencing the higher education practice of your colleagues or other peers that teach and/or support high quality learning. You will be using your own effective and inclusive practice across all PSF 2023 Dimensions as a basis of your work.

The APP EXP Process visual outlines the step-by-step journey for individuals engaging in the APP EXP (Advance Professional Practice Experience) program. It highlights the key stages from initial registration to final outcome, ensuring participants understand what to expect and how to navigate each part of the process with the support of mentors and available resources.