Dr Letizia Gramaglia
What motivated you to work with the Monash Warwick Alliance?
It all started in July 2018 when I met Prof Allie Clemans at the Educational Leadership Development Symposium in Prato (Italy). The symposium was organised by WIHEA (of which I was then a Foundation Fellow and which I now have the privilege to lead as Director) and the Monash Education Academy with the aim to encourage ongoing partnerships, projects and research opportunities. We discussed the possibility of a collaboration which would enable Monash to gain institutional accreditation with Advance HE and develop programmes leading to HEA Fellowship modelled on the Warwick pathways for professional recognition. The MWA was the catalyst to make this happen! We submitted a successful bid for funding that allowed us to launch an incubation scheme (endorsed by Advance HE) for the development and establishment of two accredited Monash programmes. I visited Monash twice to contribute to the socialisation stage of the scheme and help promoting the strategic positioning of the UK Professional Standards Framework. In parallel, colleagues from the Academic Development Centre mentored a core of Monash colleagues through the Academic and Professional Pathway for Experienced staff – APPEXP in order to build initial internal capacity for championing mentoring and reviewing of Fellowships. This also provided an opportunity to Warwick colleagues to expand their international networks.
What are your top three collaboration achievements so far?
As a result, in September 2019 Monash became a subscribing member of AdvanceHE and gained accreditation in June 2020. A total of 13 Fellowships were awarded to Monash staff through the APPEXP and both Monash Programmes have now been successfully running for a year with a growing number of fellowships being awarded and celebrated at Monash. The strategic function of these programmes cannot be underestimated!
What do you hope to ultimately achieve through your collaboration?
Although the initial aims of the collaboration have been achieved, the ongoing working relationship that we have established with the MEA is truly invaluable and I am sure will lead to further collaborations.
Can you share one fun fact about yourself or your work?
I once was challenged to taste 50 flavours of gelato in 3 days whilst in Rome – and of course I accepted the challenge and got to 51!