About the AHPD
The Association of the Heads of Psychology Departments (AHPD) is an organisation set up to support and promote the interests of the academic heads of UK and Eire university psychology departments. Note that here ‘departments’ refers to an academic unit (school, faculty, division, etc) delivering psychology degrees and producing academic research.
Although the focus of AHPD is on supporting individual heads of psychology departments it is the department/school itself that is the member of the Association. Thus, when a head’s term of office comes to an end their successor will take over attending the meetings and taking part in the Association’s activities. If a head is unable to attend a meeting, they are free to send a representative. Currently departmental/school membership costs £750 per annum, which covers the costs of meetings, most training events and administrative support. Currently, 104 psychology departments are members of the AHPD. Most of our members offer BPS accredited UG degrees, as well as PGT and PGR programmes. Some also offer professional doctorate degrees in clinical psychology and/or counselling psychology.
The History
AHPD was set up in the 1970s and has held meetings three times a year since that time, including in virtual form during the COVID pandemic. It was set up because a group of heads recognised a need to support those charged with the leadership of academic departments in the UK as the role involves both a management function and one of promoting and steering the discipline of psychology itself. The support we offer takes a variety of forms, including lobbying on behalf of the interests of university psychology departments, providing networking opportunities for heads, and offering training in the skills needed to be a successful head (see below for further examples of AHPD activities).
Who is responsible for AHPD?
The AHPD is led by a committee of volunteers and has the support of a paid administrator who maintains membership lists, organises meeting venues, and coordinates speakers among other things. All committee members have been or are currently heads of departments. The committee meets three times a year before meeting with the wider community to discuss and agree matters of governance, current and future priorities, and ongoing operations.
AHPD is an independent association but will often liaise with other bodies to promote issues of common interest, including organisations such as the British Psychology Society (BPS), funders such as the ESRC or BBSRC, the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), and other key governmental, higher education, and third sector organisations.
What does membership offer?
You will be invited to three meetings a year, which include updates and reports on current matters, followed by workshops for professional development or direct contact with key regulators and funding controllers.
Recent workshops covered topics like using ChatGPT in teaching, handling difficult conversations, and guidance for new heads. These sessions often feature national psychology department leaders and BPS representatives, providing valuable insights and opportunities to engage with influential figures.
Membership allows input on national consultations impacting academic psychology departments, such as the REF and QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for Psychology. We also support nominations for panels like the REF and engage with relevant bodies on national-level concerns, such as HESA’s data on graduate outcomes.
AHPD operates an email list for members to share information, post job or study opportunities, and seek input from other heads. This list is a useful resource for finding external examiners and benchmarking departmental activities.
Many heads find AHPD meetings uniquely beneficial, offering a chance to connect with peers facing similar challenges. New heads often feel reassured by discussing issues with more experienced colleagues. AHPD also facilitates mentoring and sharing best practices, providing support for ongoing challenges.