§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether it is his intention that the new national professional standards for teachers in higher education will include a requirement to hold specific or new professional or academic qualifications. [152656]
§ Alan JohnsonThe White Paper, The Future of Higher Education, signalled that in order for teaching in HE to be treated seriously as a profession its own right, national professional standards designed and agreed by the sector should be introduced. Training to meet the new standards should be possible through a wide range of programmes and courses. It is expected that all new teaching staff will be required to obtain a teaching qualification that meets the standards. Qualifications will be awarded by HEIs and could be existing qualifications, adapted and developed as necessary, or newly developed qualifications. The development of the standards and the accreditation of the qualifications are being taken forward by the new sector body, the HE Academy.