Learning Enhancement and Academic Development (LEAD) Centre
LEAD are a key part of QMU’s commitment to delivering transformative, inclusive, and high-quality education that is accessible to all. We empower staff and students to shape learning experiences that inspire, challenge, and create real-world impact.
LEAD brings together academic developers and learning advisors dedicated to enhancing learning, teaching, assessment, and the overall student experience at Queen Margaret University. Grounded in research-informed practice, we offer resources and continuing professional development aligned with QMU’s Strategic Plan (2020-2025) and the QMU Student Experience Strategy.
Led by Vikki Hill, LEAD fosters collaboration and knowledge exchange across QMU’s on-campus, QMU Online, and our global, transnational partnerships. We embrace a students-as-partners approach, working collaboratively with our diverse community of student Change Makers to co-create initiatives that foster innovation and inclusivity in academic development and educational practice.
The LEAD Centre consists of two core teams:
- Learning Enhancement (student facing)
- Academic Development (staff facing)
- Staff Support & Resources
- Fellowships
- Courses
- For Students
- News & Events
Staff Support & Resources
LEAD offers a range of academic development events and CPD workshops throughout the year for colleagues at QMU and collaborative partners. The Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) team also offer a suite of workshops which can be viewed through the Technology Enhanced Learning Calendar. These can be viewed through our LEAD calendar. We also welcome conversations regarding learning, teaching and assessment with programme teams and individual colleagues, so please feel free to contact the LEAD team.
LEAD SharePoint sites
The main LEAD SharePoint site can be accessed by those with QMU Login. To support staff, LEAD have co-created four SharePoint sites with guidance, toolkits and examples of practice on Decolonising, Generative AI, Sustainability and Inclusive Teaching, Learning and Assessment. We value collaboration between all QMU staff and students.
If you would like to contribute to the development of this site, or share resources, events, publications, or for more information, please contact Vikki Hill.
Sustainability in Learning, Teaching and Assessment
Inclusive Learning, Teaching and Assessment
Programme Assessment Design
We are offering a series of five workshops for programme teams designed to enhance inclusive and authentic assessment. These workshops will develop assessment literacy for both staff and students, and will promote consistent and robust assessment practices. The workshops will give programme teams an opportunity to reflect on and plan their assessment design, marking processes and feedback.
For further enquiries or details, please contact Helen Donaghue.
INSIGHTS
The LEAD Centre in collaboration with TEL and ELS host a bi-monthly talk series. We curate a number of professional development opportunities that relate to teaching and learning enhancement and offer an opportunity for colleagues to come together to share research and practice. These events feature a range of internal and external speakers and are open to staff who teach across QMU Campus, QMU Online and QMU Partners. If you are interested in sharing your research or practice, please fill out this expressions of interest form. You can book a place on our upcoming events on the LEAD calendar.
We particularly welcome staff/ student projects and collaborations and our colleagues have found it beneficial for building evidence towards their SFHEA applications.
Fellowship
LEAD supports QMU colleagues working towards Fellowship with Advance HE.
Fellowship demonstrates a personal and institutional commitment to professionalism in learning and teaching in higher education. Across four categories, from Associate to Principal, Fellowship provides individuals with recognition of their practice, impact and leadership of teaching and learning.
Our accredited CPD route, ASPIRE, is for Associate Fellow, Fellow and Senior Fellow applications by QMU staff. There is no fee associated with your application. It is reviewed internally by a trained panel of colleagues and moderated by an external reviewer. We support Principal Fellowship applications on an individual basis, and these involve direct applications to Advance HE.
We embed a cohort approach to Fellowship support at QMU in order to build a learning community and share practice across disciplines. One of recent successful Senior Fellows said:
The sessions supporting the application process were invaluable when writing up. Completing the application has been a very helpful and affirming experience.
Cohorts start twice per year in April and October so please contact the LEAD team to request further information or express an interest in joining the next available cohort.
Courses
Teaching, Learning and Assessment in Tertiary Education (TLA in TE) - short PG 20 credit course
The TLA in TE course is a free postgraduate course for QMU staff, primarily those who are new to teaching at tertiary level but also suitable for more experienced staff who wish to expand their teaching repertoire and engage in professional development. The course aims to support participants to provide inclusive, active, collaborative teaching informed by scholarship and reflection, and will also give participants the opportunity to meet and form a collaborative learning community with colleagues from across the university. This course has been mapped to Advance HE’s Professional Standards Framework and on successful completion, participants will receive Associate Fellow recognition. The 20 credits from this course can contribute towards a PG certificate in Academic Practice (60 credits) which will be available after 2024/5.
There will be two iterations of this course each academic year, one starting in September and the other in January. Each iteration will run for 11 weeks on Wednesday afternoons, and each cohort will be limited to 20 places. There are no formal entry requirements, but in the semester that you enroll on the course, you need to have scheduled teaching because the course involves a teaching observation. You also need to have Wednesday afternoons free for synchronous and asynchronous course activities.
To apply or for more information about the short course
Please contact Helen Donaghue for enquiries or further details.
IMMERSE
IMMERSE is an online two day introduction to teaching and learning in higher education. The course has been designed for QMU on-campus, online staff, partner staff and PhD students who are either new to teaching, new to teaching QMU programmes, or whose roles include an aspect of teaching or supporting learning. It will be especially useful for new Lecturers, Associate Lecturers, PhD students, technicians, library services and support staff.
What does it involve?
Introduction to teaching and learning
Curriculum design
Inclusive practice
Assessment
Digital pedagogies
Micro-teaching
The course is not accredited but is relevant to these dimensions of the AdvanceHE framework V1, V3, K1 - K3, A1 -A5. It will help build evidence for anyone planning to apply for Associate Fellowship via the ASPIRE programme and guidance will be given.
The course runs three times a year. You will need to join for both days so please also book a place for Day 2.
Dates and Bookings: please check our AdCaL online system.
Certificate of Attendance: Workshop attendance will be recorded by the LEAD Centre. Colleagues can request a certificate of completion once all four workshops have been completed by contacting academic@qmu.ac.uk.
Effective Learning Service (ELS)
The Effective Learning Service (ELS) offers guidance and support to all students who wish to develop their academic writing and study skills to help you become as self-reliant as possible.
More about the Effective Learning Service at QMU
LEAD (Learning Enhancement and Academic Development) Centre - Upcoming Events
The LEAD Centre offers a range of academic development events and CPD workshops throughout the year for colleagues at QMU and collaborative partners.
QMU Festival of Learning - Assessment 360, 28th May 10-4pm
The LEAD Centre is delighted to host our annual QMU Festival of Learning that will be held on Wednesday 28th May from 10-4pm and is on the theme of Assessment. We have a wide range of events from students and staff and our keynote this year is entitled Inclusive Assessment in the Age of AI by Dr Maha Bali, Professor of Practice at the Center for Learning and Teaching at the American University in Cairo.
Have a look through the programme. QMU staff, students and partners can book online.
