As the NI members group, we facilitated our first round of CMALT support as a regional cohort from January to May 2019, with three full day workshops/writing retreats and two one hour online webinars. Approximately, a dozen colleagues attended from across the sectors, including higher education, further education and a school sector body. Daria Casement, Queen’s University Belfast and Stefanie Campbell, South Eastern Regional College, submitted in the first window at the beginning of June and both successfully gained professional recognition for their portfolios. We asked each how they gained from going through the process as part of a community of practice and what they learned from colleagues.
Daria
What have you learned through being a part of this group?
“That my role is not standardised and other people doing the role can be doing very different things. It’s ok to be different but we have a lot of overlap in terms of skills and support.”
How has being part of the group affected your professional development?
“It has me considering what I do in my role that could be done better. Working smarter, not harder. IT has helped me identify areas for professional development and the steps I need to take to improve my skills and experience to improve my job offering.”
What is the best thing about being part of the ALT NI CMALT group?
“Meeting other people doing similar roles in different departments / organisations and the realisation that we all have similar difficulties. This is a comfort. I like the networking opportunities and everyone is helpful.”
Stef
What have you learned through being a part of this group?
“How similar everyone’s challenges and achievements are in FE an HE! We may have different job titles and varying roles, but we have such similar thoughts about innovation and creative pedagogical practices.”
How has being part of the group affected your professional development?
“Growth of peer network, confidence in my role and able to reflect on my learning and future development goals.”
What is the best thing about being part of the ALT NI CMALT group?
“Networking with like-minded people and learning from each other.”
If you are considering CMALT as a pathway for professional development and recognition and would like local support please get in contact, with Craig or Clare as we will be running the cohort for a second time, starting in January 2020.
