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I am writing in response to Marion Hersch's assertion that the ILT is unlikely to offer much to academic support staff (Letters, THES , Aug 3).

The ILT has consistently and actively encouraged membership from all staff involved in teaching and learning support. In my institution, librarians, staff developers and information technology trainers are either already members or in the process of applying.

Staff in these areas can still suffer from a perceived lack of credibility when engaging in teaching and learning. But membership of bodies like the ILT gives us a real oppor-tunity to demonstrate our professionalism and to contribute to the teaching and learning debate, both locally and nationally.

Far from excluding us, it raises our profile and helps us work with academics in enhancing the higher education learning environment.

Chris Powis
Learning support coordinator
University College Northampton