Expressions of interest welcomed for Senior Fellowship Professional Dialogue Programme
Expressions of interest are now being taken for the Senior Fellowship Professional Dialogue Programme, leading to Senior Fellowship of Advance HE (SFHEA).
The programme is led by Learning Enhancement colleagues, supporting LJMU staff to gain recognition for their commitment to professionalism in learning and teaching in higher education.
Colleagues who currently hold SFHEA are part of the LJMU programme team, acting as mentors and assessment reviewers, to help participants to produce a set of written evidence supporting their claim towards recognition and culminating in a 45-minute assessed professional dialogue.
In 2024/25, LJMU ran a successful pilot of the programme, leading to 7 Senior Fellowships being awarded. In 2025/26, the programme was rolled out across the university and a further 10 colleagues achieved Senior Fellowship.
The programme is open to all, both professional services and academic colleagues, with a demonstratable track record in supporting the development of colleagues’ academic practice and with around five years teaching (or support for learning) experience in HE.
To assess whether Senior Fellowship is appropriate, individuals should complete the Advance HE Fellowship Category Tool. This tool has been designed to help select the category of Fellowship which is the closest match to practice.
Anyone interested in enrolling on the programme then needs to complete an expression of interest form, providing a summary of how their experience maps to the SFHEA criteria. Those individuals who have demonstrated the strongest match for SFHEA will be enrolled on the programme, with 15 places available for the 2026/27 programme. Those who are not chosen for enrolment will be provided with feedback on their application.
The deadline for expressions of interest is 5pm on Friday 16 October 2026.
Email Rachel Kynaston for further information about the programme and to request an expression of interest form.
This programme supports the LJMU Framework for Higher Quality Teaching and Learning, ensuring all staff are qualified to teach and outstanding teaching and learning.
Feedback from previous participants
I have spent many years supporting students, mentoring colleagues and leading initiatives across teaching and learning. The SFHEA Professional Dialogue Programme provided a valuable opportunity to reflect on that work and consider its wider impact. I found the process both affirming and insightful, helping me recognise aspects of my contribution that I would otherwise have overlooked. It is a supportive and rewarding route to professional recognition that I would highly recommend to colleagues with significant leadership and influence in higher education.
A Professor from the Liverpool Business School
“As none of my immediate colleagues had been through the Senior Fellowship process themselves, I did not have access to local support or mentoring, making the programme particularly valuable. The fact that the programme was free of charge was an additional benefit, given the costs associated with a direct application route. Despite having experience leading educational initiatives, I had not fully appreciated how much I had achieved until I engaged with the programme and reflected on my contributions. The programme was both supportive and developmental. The facilitators, my mentor and peer group provided valuable feedback that increased my confidence, helped me articulate my educational leadership more effectively and encouraged me to reflect on my impact more strategically. As well as supporting me through a successful fellowship application, the process prompted me to reflect on my practice and helped focus my future direction. I believe the programme would benefit anyone considering applying for SFHEA, particularly those who may underestimate the significance of their contributions!”
Lecturer in the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences
The programme enabled me to bring together evidence from across my practice and consider how I support colleagues, influence programmes and improve the apprentice student experience. The process helped me connect activities that can sometimes feel separate and understand them as part of a sustained approach to academic leadership. It also provided a supportive space to discuss my evidence, reflect on my approach, recognise the wider impact of my work and identify areas for continued development. Achieving SFHEA provides external recognition of sustained academic leadership and influence, which will hopefully strengthen my professional profile and support my future career development.
Lecturer in the School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment
“I had not thought about my teaching practice from a purely pedagogical point of view since undertaking my PGCert. This programme allowed me time out of my usual roles to reflect on my practice and how it has developed, alongside colleagues from across the university with interesting roles and perspectives on best teaching practice in different contexts. The Senior Fellowship framework is also valuable for capturing what you have achieved as a teacher, which is easy to forget in the busy flow of the academic years.”
Subject Leader in Law
