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This is the ILT's August news briefing. It may be freely circulated or published. Please pass it on to anyone within your own organisation who might be interested. Andrea L. T. Rayner Assistant Director: External Relations Institute for Learning and Teaching (ILT) Learning and Teaching Support Network (LTSN) Direct line: 01904 434025 Direct email: [log in to unmask] Websites: http://www.ilt.ac.uk http://www.ltsn.ac.uk AUGUST 2001 BRIEFING FROM THE INSTITUTE FOR LEARNING AND TEACHING (ILT) * There has been a significant increase in the volume of applications to join the ILT, which are currently being received at the rate of 200 per week. At the beginning of August membership numbers stood at 5,800 and a total of 7,300 applications had been received. Over 1,000 applications have been received since 1 July. The ILT passed its September 2001 target of 5,280 accepted members in June. * On 10 July 20 lecturers from universities and colleges across England were awarded National Teaching Fellowships worth £50,000 in recognition of their excellence in teaching. The winners were presented with their awards by the new Minister for Lifelong Learning and Higher Education, the Rt Hon Margaret Hodge, at a ceremony in London. The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme, launched in 2000, is part of an overall programme to raise the status of teaching and learning in higher education. The scheme is managed by the ILT on behalf of the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) in Northern Ireland, who have asked the ILT to administer it for a further year. * The Initial Entry for Experienced Staff (IEES) route to ILT membership, which was due to end in its present form at the end of September 2001, has been extended until July 2002. The IEES route has proved extremely popular, with more than half of the total number of applications being made via this route. Work on a replacement route has been taking place over the last year but initial consultations with accreditors, members and others indicates a great deal of support for this application method. A consultation document on the future of this route will be circulated in the autumn. * The ILT has concluded an agreement with the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (CCETSW) whereby holders of the CCETSW Practice Teaching Award are immediately eligible to join the ILT. CCETSW is a statutory body that approves programmes of education and training and promotes quality social care and social work in the UK. Anyone who has completed this award after September 1997 may apply directly for ILT membership. * The ILT's second Annual Conference, held at the University of York from 4-6 July, was attended by over 350 delegates who participated in over 100 working sessions. Keynote plenary sessions were given by Professor Brenda Smith of the LTSN Generic Centre, Dr Keith Trigwell of the Institute for the Advancement of University Learning at the University of Oxford and Professor Ian Scott of the Centre for HE Development at the University of Cape Town. Feedback received has generally been very positive, with 80% of delegates commenting that the Conference represented good or excellent value for money. Bookings are already being taken for next year's Conference. * The first book in the ILT's Effective Learning and Teaching series was launched at the Conference. The series is published by Kogan Page in association with the ILT and the Times Higher Education Supplement. The first title in a planned series of 24 to be published over the next five years is Effective Learning and Teaching in Business and Management. * The ILT has launched a new scheme for its members offering grants of up to £1,000 for individuals or small groups to 'make a difference' in activities such as networking, publication or dissemination in relation to learning and teaching in higher education. * The ILT will hold its Annual General Meeting on 27 September in London. The AGM will be preceded by a symposium on Widening Participation and Promoting Student Retention.