TY - CHAP
T1 - Improving Capacity for Curriculum Change by Investing in the Leadership and Careers of Teaching Specialists
AU - Enright, Ali
AU - Christian, Matthew
AU - Maddox, Georgina
AU - Rossi, Cara
AU - Swain, Taylor
AU - Woodyatt, Lydia
PY - 2026
Y1 - 2026
N2 - Teaching Specialists (TS) can play a crucial role in driving curriculum renewal, quality improvement, and change in universities. However, these academic roles are often culturally undervalued in higher education, specifically in psychology, due to the prevailing science practitioner model, which can place value on research over teaching. Further, barriers to course improvement include staff capability, time constraints, and the complexity of coordinating multiple systems and stakeholders. This chapter discusses the role that TS academics play in overcoming these barriers, driving quality curriculum improvement. We argue that universities must invest in the careers of TS academics, providing mentorship and supervision, facilitating networking opportunities, and supporting capacity-building initiatives. By doing so, TS academics can be empowered to lead continuous and cumulative change—a sustainable strategy within the complex higher education ecosystem—positioning themselves and their institutions for educational excellence.
AB - Teaching Specialists (TS) can play a crucial role in driving curriculum renewal, quality improvement, and change in universities. However, these academic roles are often culturally undervalued in higher education, specifically in psychology, due to the prevailing science practitioner model, which can place value on research over teaching. Further, barriers to course improvement include staff capability, time constraints, and the complexity of coordinating multiple systems and stakeholders. This chapter discusses the role that TS academics play in overcoming these barriers, driving quality curriculum improvement. We argue that universities must invest in the careers of TS academics, providing mentorship and supervision, facilitating networking opportunities, and supporting capacity-building initiatives. By doing so, TS academics can be empowered to lead continuous and cumulative change—a sustainable strategy within the complex higher education ecosystem—positioning themselves and their institutions for educational excellence.
KW - Curriculum change
KW - teaching specialists
KW - career development
KW - educational leadership
KW - course improvement
U2 - 10.1007/978-3-032-09977-8_2
DO - 10.1007/978-3-032-09977-8_2
M3 - Chapter
SN - 978-3-032-09976-1
T3 - International and Cultural Psychology
SP - 17
EP - 29
BT - Teaching Psychology Globally
A2 - Rich, Grant J.
A2 - Nordmann, Emily
A2 - Searight, H. Russell
A2 - Mampane, Motlalepule Ruth
A2 - Reece, John
A2 - Lopez, Alfredo Padilla
PB - Springer
CY - Cham, Switzerland
ER -