About LearnHigher

Learn Higher emerged from a CETL grant bid developed from the first LDHEN Symposium in 2003. The grant enabled the development of the Learn Higher platform which then came into being in 2005. The largest collaborative CETL with partners from 16 institutions, Learn Higher formed a network committed to enhancing student success by providing excellent peer-evaluated resources to support students’ learning development, and through practice-led research into the effective use of those resources.

LearnHigher is a network for promoting and facilitating the development and dissemination of high quality, peer-reviewed resources for learning development in the higher education sector.

We aim to:

  • provide access to research-informed, peer-evaluated, adaptable learning development resources
  • support the development of such resources through the provision of information about funding, training and networking opportunities, and mentoring
  • support and disseminate research into the use and effectiveness of learning development strategies and materials

LearnHigher originated in 2005 as one of 73 Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETLs) in England and Wales, funded by HEFCE. LearnHigher was the largest collaborative CETL with partners from 16 institutions. These formed a network committed to enhancing student success by providing excellent peer-evaluated resources to support students’ learning development, and through practice-led research into the effective use of those resources. These were disseminated through the LearnHigher website.

LearnHigher was built on the principles of the ‘One Stop Swap Shop’, founded by a group of learning and educational developers to share learning development resources that were proven effective and accessible in practice. A key tenet has been to make resources freely available to anyone involved in developing student learning practices in higher education. By formalising the evaluation process and conducting additional research into the use and effectiveness of resources, LearnHigher has also made a major contribution to the professionalisation of learning development.

A partnership quilt produced in 2010 by LearnHigher partners to celebrate the successful conclusion of the CETL.
A partnership quilt produced in 2010 by LearnHigher partners to celebrate the successful conclusion of the CETL.

With the end of CETL funding in 2010, LearnHigher activity is continuing under the auspices of ALDinHE, the Association for Learning Development in Higher Education. The LearnHigher Network is open to anyone interested in furthering LearnHigher’s aims, and held its inaugural meeting in November 2010. At that meeting, a Working Group was elected to oversee and guide LearnHigher’s future objectives.

View the LearnHigher Working Group members.

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