The PSF 2023 Areas of Activity (A1–A5) are the five essential dimensions of professional practice required for Advance HE Fellowship. Managed through the SiteAdvance portal, these areas—ranging from designing learning activities to engaging in professional development—provide the structural framework for educators to evidence their effectiveness and impact within the global higher education sector.
As we move through 2026, the Professional Standards Framework (PSF 2023) remains the global benchmark for excellence in higher education teaching and learning support. Whether you are an early-career academic, a technician supporting laboratories, or a senior leader driving institutional change, the "Areas of Activity" represent the "what" of your professional practice. In the current landscape of digital transformation and inclusive pedagogy, understanding how to map your daily work to these five specific criteria is the most critical step toward achieving Associate Fellow (D1), Fellow (D2), Senior Fellow (D3), or Principal Fellow (D4) status.
Understanding the PSF 2023 Framework Architecture
The PSF 2023 is a revision of the original UKPSF 2011, updated to reflect the contemporary complexities of higher education. It is divided into three interconnected dimensions that applicants must demonstrate in their Fellowship submissions:
- Areas of Activity (A): What you do in your teaching and support role.
- Core Knowledge (K): What you know about pedagogy, your subject, and digital/physical environments.
- Professional Values (V): The principles that guide your work, specifically regarding inclusivity, ethics, and collaborative practice.
The "Areas of Activity" are often considered the "engine room" of a Fellowship application. They provide the narrative structure for your Case Studies or Professional Statements. In 2026, Advance HE emphasizes that these activities must not be viewed in isolation but should be integrated with Core Knowledge and Professional Values to show a holistic professional identity.
Detailed Analysis of the Five Areas of Activity (A1–A5)
To succeed in a Fellowship application via the SiteAdvance-HE portal, you must provide specific, evidence-based examples for each of the following areas relevant to your target Descriptor (D1-D4).
A1: Design and Plan Learning Activities and/or Programmes
A1 focuses on the preparatory work that occurs before a learner engages with a session or course. This is not merely about creating a syllabus; it is about the intentionality behind the design.
- Design Rationale: You must explain why you chose specific methods. For example, if you are designing a flipped classroom model for a 2026 engineering module, you should discuss how this design supports student autonomy.
- Alignment: Demonstrating how learning outcomes align with assessment tasks (Constructive Alignment).
- Inclusivity by Design: Evidence of how you have considered diverse learner needs, such as neurodiversity or international backgrounds, at the design stage.
A2: Teach and/or Support Learning through Appropriate Approaches and Environments
A2 is the "delivery" phase. It encompasses traditional lecturing, small-group seminars, clinical supervision, or digital facilitation in Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs).
- Learning Environments: How do you utilize physical spaces or digital platforms (like Teams, Moodle, or bespoke 2026 AI-driven platforms) to foster engagement?
- Pedagogical Approaches: Evidence of active learning techniques, such as problem-based learning or gamification.
- Flexibility: How you adapt your teaching "on the fly" in response to student needs or unexpected technical challenges.
A3: Assess and Give Feedback for Learning
Assessment remains one of the most scrutinized areas of academic practice. A3 requires evidence of both summative (for grades) and formative (for development) assessment strategies.
- Feedback Quality: In 2026, the focus has shifted toward "feedback loops" where students have the opportunity to act on feedback.
- Authentic Assessment: Designing assessments that mimic real-world professional tasks.
- Integrity: How you manage academic integrity and the ethical use of generative AI within assessment frameworks.
A4: Support and Guide Learners
This area acknowledges that learning happens beyond the classroom. It includes personal tutoring, dissertation supervision, and the provision of pastoral care.
- Holistic Support: How you support the "whole student," including their transition into higher education and their progression toward employability.
- Specialist Support: If you are in a professional services role (e.g., Librarian or Careers Advisor), this is where you demonstrate your direct impact on the learner journey.
- Peer Support: Facilitating peer-assisted learning or mentoring schemes.
A5: Enhance Practice through Own Continuing Professional Development
A5 is the reflective heart of the PSF 2023. It requires you to show that you are a "reflective practitioner" who actively seeks to improve.
- CPD Engagement: Attending workshops, conferences, or completing formal qualifications (like a PGCert).
- Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL): Engaging with educational research and applying it to your own context.
- Evaluation: Using student feedback, peer observations, and data analytics to measure your impact and make iterative improvements.
Mapping PSF 2023 to Fellowship Descriptors
The depth and breadth of evidence required for these Areas of Activity depend on the level of Fellowship you are seeking. The SiteAdvance system is programmed to guide you through these requirements based on the following standards.
| Fellowship Category | Scope of Areas of Activity | Primary Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Fellow (D1) | Requires evidence of at least 2 Areas of Activity. | Focused on specific aspects of teaching or support. |
| Fellow (D2) | Requires evidence of ALL 5 Areas of Activity (A1-A5). | Broad practice across the full cycle of teaching and learning. |
| Senior Fellow (D3) | Requires evidence of ALL 5 Areas of Activity + Leadership. | Sustained record of effectiveness and influencing the practice of others. |
| Principal Fellow (D4) | Requires evidence of ALL 5 Areas of Activity + Strategic Impact. | Institutional or national/international impact on policy and practice. |
Technical Requirements for the SiteAdvance-HE UK Portal
SiteAdvance is the proprietary platform used by Advance HE for Fellowship submissions. As of 2026, the portal has been updated to streamline the mapping process for PSF 2023. Applicants must ensure they meet the following technical and operational criteria:
- Account Provisioning: Ensure your institution has an active subscription to Advance HE. If you are an individual applicant, ensure your "My Academy" profile is linked to the PSF 2023 pathway rather than the deprecated 2011 version.
- Evidence Uploads: The system allows for narrative text, but increasingly supports "multi-modal" evidence, including links to recorded teaching segments or digital portfolios, provided they meet the word-count equivalency guidelines.
- Referee Selection: For D2 and D3 applications, your referees (Supporting Statements) must explicitly comment on your competence within the A1-A5 framework. It is highly recommended to provide your referees with a draft of your mapping to ensure consistency.
Comparison: PSF 2011 vs. PSF 2023 Areas of Activity
It is important to understand the nuances if you are transitioning an older application or mentoring others who were certified under the previous framework.
Key Changes in PSF 2023
A5 Transformation In the 2011 framework, A5 was "incorporate research, scholarship and professional practice." In PSF 2023, A5 is explicitly "Enhance practice through own continuing professional development." This shifts the focus from just "doing" research to "applying" learning to improve the student experience.
Integration of Digital Environments While not a separate Area of Activity, the 2023 framework embeds digital fluency across all A1-A5 categories. In 2026, an application that fails to mention digital tools or virtual environments in A1 or A2 is unlikely to meet the "Appropriate Approaches" criteria.
Collaboration and Inclusivity The 2023 framework places a much heavier emphasis on working with others and ensuring inclusive practice. This is now woven into the "Professional Values" that must underpin every Area of Activity.
Strategic Tips for a Successful Application in 2026
To achieve a successful outcome through the SiteAdvance review process, consider the following strategic recommendations from Senior Fellowship assessors:
- Avoid Descriptive Narratives: Do not just list what you did. Use the "What, So What, Now What" model of reflection. What did you do in A3 (Assessment)? So what was the impact on the students? Now what will you change for next year?
- The Power of 'I': Fellowship is about your practice. While collaboration is valued, the assessors need to see your specific contribution. Avoid using "we" when describing a course design; specify your role in that design.
- Quantifiable Impact: Use data where possible. For A5, if a change in your practice resulted in a 15% increase in student satisfaction or a reduction in the attainment gap, state those figures clearly.
- Synthesize with Core Knowledge (K): When discussing A1 (Design), mention K1 (The subject material) and K2 (Appropriate methods for teaching). This "mapping" is what the reviewers look for in the SiteAdvance portal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the main difference between A1 and A2 in PSF 2023?
A1 focuses on the planning, design, and preparation of learning (the "before"), while A2 focuses on the actual delivery and facilitation of learning (the "during"). In practice, these are linked; for example, you might design a seminar (A1) and then facilitate it (A2). Your application should show how the design in A1 directly informed the successful delivery in A2.
Can I use the same evidence for multiple Areas of Activity?
Yes, a single complex project often touches on multiple areas, but you must "frame" the evidence differently for each. For instance, a new feedback system could be evidence for A3 (Assessment and Feedback), but your reflection on how you learned to use the software for that system would be evidence for A5 (Professional Development).
How does PSF 2023 address the use of AI in teaching?
Artificial Intelligence is treated as part of the "Appropriate Approaches and Environments" (A2) and "Digital Environments" (K4). Applicants in 2026 are expected to demonstrate how they have integrated AI literacy into their course design (A1) or used AI tools to provide more timely feedback (A3) while maintaining academic integrity.
Do I need to be a lecturer to meet the A1-A5 criteria?
No, the PSF 2023 is designed to be inclusive of all staff who "support learning." Technicians, librarians, educational developers, and learning technologists can all meet these criteria. For example, a librarian designing a workshop on information literacy is fulfilling A1 and A2 just as much as a professor designing a lecture.
What happens if I miss an Area of Activity in my Fellow (D2) application?
Your application will likely be returned for "referral," meaning you must add more evidence. The SiteAdvance system includes a checklist to ensure you have addressed all five areas. If you feel one area is weak, seek out a "Teaching Observation" or a CPD workshop to bolster that specific section of your portfolio before submission.
Achieving Advance HE Fellowship is a significant milestone in any academic career. By meticulously mapping your professional practice to the PSF 2023 Areas of Activity and utilizing the SiteAdvance portal effectively, you demonstrate a commitment to excellence that benefits your students, your institution, and the wider higher education community in 2026 and beyond.
