ILT sets its entry rules

Academics who wish to be members of the Institute of Learning and Teaching will have to demonstrate 24 "teaching outcomes".

A consultation report out next week from the institute planning group details membership requirements for the first time.

The institute, based in York, will be launched in spring. It aims to establish a credible UK-wide standard for higher education teaching. Both new and existing teachers in universities and colleges will be urged to gain membership, and career progression may ultimately depend on it.

The proportion of staff gaining institute membership could also become an important element of future funding formulas.

Two levels of membership are envisaged - full and associateship. The consultation report identified five broad headings of responsibility. Full members will be expected to achieve all or most of the outcomes under each heading and associate members will be expected to achieve about half.

Experienced staff are likely to possess most of the evidence they need for membership. They will submit a portfolio and file of evidence containing work samples to either their own institution or another ILT-accredited one.

New staff will assemble evidence gradually while following an accredited training programme.

The file of evidence will be in five parts coinciding with the five groups of outcomes identified. These are the ability to design and plan a course; to teach and support learning in a subject; to assess students' learning and achievements; to contribute to the maintenance of student support systems; and to evaluate and improve teaching.

Membership will initially last three years. Members may renew or upgrade membership for a further three years if they have a professional development record.

The institute has begun recruiting senior staff, although it has yet to appoint a chief executive. Lord Dearing was announced last week as the first ILT patron.