Minister launches UK Academy at Belfast Castle

A national initiative to provide support for third-level learning and teaching has been launched at Belfast Castle.

Launched by Employment and Learning Minister Barry Gardiner, the UK Higher Education Academy will focus on staff, disciplines, higher education institutions and their leaders and stakeholders in the sector.

Mr Gardiner said: "The Academy is an exciting new initiative for UK higher education which provides, for the first time, a truly UK-wide focus for enhancing the student experience and providing strategic advice to the sector and government institutions.

“As participation in higher education increases, there will be greater and more varying student demands. The Academy will help institutions and staff groups to strengthen student services administration and support to provide the best possible educational experience."

The Academy is an independent organisation financed by grants from the four UK funding bodies, subscriptions from higher education institutions, individual fees from practitioners and grant and contract income for specific initiatives.

Governed by a board whose members are drawn mainly from institutional leaders and senior academics and a council of which the majority is elected by their peers, it is owned by the higher education sector and therefore responsive to students needs.

Thanking the Minister for launching the new Academy, Professor Paul Ramsden, Chief Executive, said: "My aim is to ensure that the Higher Education Academy will set the standards by which global efforts to bring the best practice approach to teaching in higher education will be judged.

"Many higher education policy issues have critical implications for the student experience. We will evaluate and influence policy decisions and will provide an authoritative and independent voice on policies that affect students, as well as supplying strategic advice to the HE community, government and others on practices that will enhance the holistic learning experience."

Earlier the Minister was welcomed to Belfast Castle by Professor Leslie Wagner, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Higher Education Academy and alumni from the local and national university sector.

(MB/GMCG)