Teacher Qualification in Further Education - draft guidance and general determination: consultation analysis

Question 3

“Do you have any further comments that you consider to be relevant to the Scottish Ministers’ determination?”

The below comments are direct quotes from respondents who were content to have their responses published:

• Given that this consultation addresses Annexe C & D from the 2006 Professional Standards for Lecturers in Scotland’s Colleges, and we are amidst a review and reform of Scotland’s Colleges, the college suggests that the Professional Standards for Lecturers in Scotland’s Colleges, TQFE and its corresponding entry requirements undergo a full review in the near future. This would ensure that the gateway qualifications for professional practice in colleges are truly fit for purpose in this quickly evolving landscape.
• Finally, as the changes in Scotland’s tertiary education sector continue to gain momentum, it proves to be an ideal time to encourage aspirational thinking around what progressing the TQFE to a TQTE could offer. This would enable Scotland to be bold and world leading in its ambitions around college-based education.
• TQFE in itself is a restrictive term given that college lecturers teach over a vast range of SCQF Levels, often within the higher education framework. Therefore, we ask if is this is a suitable title/focus given the tertiary education reform?
• A further question we strongly believe needs considered is whether the TQFE, as it currently stands, will remain fit for purpose as the tertiary sector progresses.
• The main feedback we get from TQFE candidates is that the programme doesn’t help you become a better lecturer or tell you how to do this job well. The focus on becoming a reflective practitioner is, of course, valid, but at this stage in their careers (Nationally agreed terms and conditions dictates that this qualification should be started within two years of coming into post) there are a lot more pressing and practical issues that could be covered.
• Overall Bòrd na Gàidhlig welcomes the determination to improve clarity around the Teacher Qualification in Further Education (TQFE). Of the 5 Higher Education Institutions currently approved to provide programmes leading to the award of TQFE, 3 have either Gaelic Medium Education (GME) Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Programmes or Gaelic degree programmes. In Scotland Early Years, Primary and Secondary Education is provided through the medium of English or Gaelic. It is therefore crucial that a vision for the expansion of Further Education in both Gaelic and English is established. GME provision continues to expand across the country and the new TQFE framework should be constructed in a way that recognises this reality and prepares Further Education for future development of additional Gaelic medium delivery.
• The provision of the TQFE programme being validated by the GTCS is a positive move forward to ensure a qualification fit for the modern Further Education Sector ensuring that students are at the centre of their learning.
• The model scheme of provision does not enable Universities to recognise other teaching awards that could be considered in part-qualification for TQFE, e.g. the postgraduate teaching certificate in Higher Education. It would greatly aid the development of the college and university workforce if an additional TQFE route was created that provided a short course to enable those holding such awards to evidence the Standard for Teaching in Scotland’s Colleges and be observed teaching.
• The current TQFE accreditation guidance document does not reflect the current position of Learning for Sustainability as a core aspect and priority for education in Scotland. Learning for Sustainability is not merely learning about ‘sustainability’ but rather supports a suite of competencies to enable learners to fulfill their own potential, contribute to society and pursue ecologically, economically, culturally, and socially sustainable futures in an uncertain, changing world.