Two strengths of the original standards framework were its brevity and its ability to be implemented in differing higher education contexts. The proposed changes to the standard descriptors imply a model of career development that may inadvertently limit progression to higher levels for colleagues such as learning development staff, librarians, technical instructors and academic skills support tutors - all of whom have a significant part to play in the student learning experience. These changes could significantly limit the framework's applicability to colleagues on "academic-related" or other "non-academic" contracts. We urge the HEA to rethink.
John Hilsdon and Michelle Reid, Association for Learning Development in Higher Education