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 Learning Teaching and Assessment Strategy and Student Experience Strategy.
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 ChangeMakers to co-create initiatives that foster innovation and inclusivity in academic development and educational practice.
- 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 . These can be viewed through our .ÌýWe also welcome conversations regarding learning, teaching and assessment with programme teams and individual colleagues, so please feel free toÌýcontact the LEAD team.
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LEAD SharePoint site
The main can be accessed by those withÌý QMU Login. To support staff, you can find guidance, toolkits and examples of practice on a range of topics such as Assessment, Decolonising, Generative AI, Sustainability and Inclusive Teaching. Our full range of LEAD Guides are available here too. We have a Neurodiversity-affirming Teaching Toolkit and LEAD Guides on Assessment Feedback, Formative Assessment and Feedback Literacy. IfÌýyou would like to contribute to a LEAD Guide, please get in touch.
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Programme Assessment DesignÌý
For further enquiries or details,Ìýplease contact Helen Donaghue.
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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 . You can book a place on our upcoming events on the .
We particularly welcome staff/ student projects and collaborations and our colleagues have found it beneficial for building evidence towards their SFHEA applications.
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Fellowship
LEAD supports QMU colleagues working towards .
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.
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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 .Ìý
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:ÌýÌý
The sessionsÌýsupporting the application process were invaluable when writing up.Ìý 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.Ìý
Courses
Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice
LEAD is pleased to offer a PG Certificate in Academic Practice which consists of three 20-credit modules. QMU staff who successfully complete the course will be automatically awarded Fellowship from Advance HE (FHEA). The course is online and free for QMU staff and PGRs who teach and/or support learning and for partner staff whose contract includes CPD courses.The first module is Teaching Learning and Assessment in Tertiary Education (TLA), a prerequisite course for the second and third modules. For further details and how to apply, please visit the TLA in TE website
On completion of the TLA course, staff can take modules 2 and 3 in any order. To enrol on Modules 2 and 3, applicants must have at least 75 hours HE or tertiary teaching experience. Module 2 runs March-June and Module 3 runs September-February. All modules are online. Information about start dates and class times will be shared before modules begin.
Module 2: Digital Pedagogies and Practices. This module aims to help participants develop digital proficiency to support learning, teaching and assessment. The module supports those involved in teaching and learning in tertiary institutions (i.e. higher and further education) to provide inclusive, digital teaching and learning informed by scholarship and reflection. By the end of this module, you will have:
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Critiqued HE learning materials in terms of accessibility
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Adapted or created digital materials to meet the needs of a range of learners
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Created and critically evaluated a digital learning resource to promote equitable practices
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Evidenced and evaluated the breadth, depth and effectiveness of your practice in higher education
Module 3: Evaluating and Enhancing Practice. This module aims to enable participants to investigate the wider context of higher education, and to plan a project focused on evaluating and enhancing a specific aspect of your practice. By the end of this module you will have:
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Used scholarship, research, professional learning and/or other evidence-informed approaches to form a critical understanding of contemporary HE issues and their implications for practice;
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Critically evaluated your practice in relation to a contemporary HE issue(s);
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Designed, carried out and critically evaluated a change to your practice aimed at enhancing learning or assessment
For more information or queries, please contact Helen Donaghue (hdonaghue@qmu.ac.uk )
Teaching, Learning and Assessment in Tertiary Education (TLA in TE) - short PG 20 credit course
Teaching, Learning and Assessment in Tertiary Education (TLA in TE) is a free 20-credit postgraduate course for QMU on-campus staff, QMU partner staff and QMU online staff. It is designed for 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 contribute towards the (60 credits).
The September 2026 course will run online for 12 weeks on Thursday mornings from 10-12pm. There are no formal entry requirements, but you are expected to have 20 hours teaching and/ or supporting learning timetabled. This can include teaching, tutorials, Lab support, teaching assistants, PALs etc. In the semester that you enrol on the course, you need to have scheduled teaching because the course involves a teaching observation.
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 .
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. These include our bi-monthly INSIGHTS Talk series and the annual Learning and Teaching Conference.
