Advance HE has re-accredited the University’s Academic Professional Excellence Framework (APEX), delivered through the Centre for Academic and Digital Innovation (CADI). This recognition confirms the framework's robustness, quality, innovative approach and alignment with sector-recognised standards.
The following have successfully achieved re-accreditation:
- Academic Professional Excellence Framework (APEX) at Descriptors 1–3 (Associate Fellow, Fellow and Senior Fellow)
- Module M34674: Teach Well: Principles to Practice (Module 1 of the PGCLTHE) at Descriptor 1
This new accreditation runs from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2031, aligning with Advance HE’s new five-year accreditation cycle and providing a strong foundation for the continued development and professional recognition of our academic community.
The accreditation panel strongly commended the University of Portsmouth for its strategic and institution-wide commitment to educational excellence, professional development, and inclusive practice. The panel highlighted how the University’s Education Strategy and Strategic Vision 2030 place high-quality learning, student success and societal impact at the centre of institutional priorities. The University’s enABLe learning design framework was praised for fostering collaborative curriculum design involving academics, learning designers, digital learning developers and student support staff. This has helped establish a shared understanding of teaching quality through the ‘Teach Well, Consistently Well’ ethos.
The panel also praised the high-quality APEX handbooks, online resources, the accessibility offered through both written and professional conversation routes, and the clear guidance on the ethical and appropriate use of AI in fellowship preparation. The APEX team have been invited to share aspects of the commended practice in new Advance HE guidance on the use of professional conversations.
This is a significant milestone and a testament to the collaborative effort, expertise and commitment across the team. Special thanks go to Dr Andy Clegg and CADI’s Academic Innovation team, whose dedication over recent months have been instrumental in achieving this outcome. Their efforts have ensured that our provision continues to meet the highest national standards while remaining meaningful and impactful for colleagues at Portsmouth.
This success not only reinforces the strength of our current offer but also drives our next steps. We will be submitting an application over the summer for the accreditation of Module 2 of the PGCert, as we continue to enhance and expand our provision. Plans are also afoot for a third module to help colleagues prepare for Senior Fellowship.
For more information on APEX – please visit apex.port.ac.uk