In a sense, who can disagree with recent letters in support of PGCHEs? It is true that a PhD does not certify anyone to be a good teacher.
And it is certainly true that lecturers become better at using PGCHE management-speak. But are we better lecturers afterwards? I do not feel I have learnt much, if anything, from gaining the qualification. No wonder everyone I know talks about it as another useless administrative hurdle to clear to secure tenure. It almost makes me want to leave for my native US.
Thom Brooks. Newcastle University