University Teaching & Learning

ProfCert University Teaching & Learning
Graduate Taught (level 9 nfq, credits 15)

Prof Cert University Teaching & Learning - a professional qualification in university teaching and learning.

- Taught by experienced academic staff

- Research-informed and experiential approaches to developing your repertoire of teaching, learning and assessment strategies

- Learn about creative approaches to teaching through discussion with your peers

- Participants will engage in active, discursive and collaborative learning approaches. The emphasis is on critically reflecting on one's own practice to plan, implement and review new teaching and learning initiatives in disciplinary contexts

Vision and Values Statement
The Professional Certificate in University Teaching and Learning offers academic staff a professional qualification in university teaching and learning. It will equip participants with the knowledge and skills to provide effective high quality educational experiences for their students. It values academic rigour and practice relevance. It therefore uses research-led and evidence -based approaches to address contemporary issues and challenges in higher education. The emphasis is on critically reflecting on one's own practice to plan, implement and review new teaching and learning initiatives in disciplinary contexts.

It aims to provide a learning environment where participants will engage in active, discursive and collaborative learning approaches. A key feature of the programme is learning from peers in collegial interdisciplinary groups.

Programme Outcomes
By the end of the Professional Certificate in University Teaching and Learning you will be able to:

Expand your repertoire of teaching, learning, assessment and education technology strategies to promote a more engaging and enjoyable experience for teachers and students

Personalise your learning to make it relevant to your disciplinary teaching contexts

Approach teaching more creatively through discussion and collaboration with your peers

Utilise relevant research and data to support an evidence-based approach to your teaching practice

Design effective and efficient learning opportunities at module and/or programme level

Devise a critically reflective portfolio of teaching practice

Stage 1- Option
Assessment and Feedback in Higher Education UTL40140
Becoming a Better University Teacher UTL40180
Promoting student engagement through the application of technology to develop active learning UTL40190
Designing Curricula UTL40200
Teaching Across Cultures UTL40250

Entry to the Professional Certificate and the Certificate of Continuing Professional Development is open to faculty and academic related staff who are:

1) currently teaching in higher education (i.e. within a university or at NFQ level 7 or above).

2) in an active teaching role including design, delivery and assessment of modules

3) undertaking a significant teaching commitment, defined as a minimum of 2 hours teaching per week per semester or 48 hours over the course of the academic year.

Professional staff who teach as part of their brief and meet criteria 1, 2 and 3 above may apply for the programme and will be considered on a case by case basis.

Please note that the Professional Certificate and the Certificate of Continuing Professional Development are not suitable for tutors or postdoctoral and research fellows. UCD Teaching and Learning offers the module University Teaching and Learning for Tutors, Demonstrators and TAs (UTL40230) and the University Teaching & Learning Practice seminar series. In the exceptional circumstances where a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (level 2) is approved as module coordinator by Academic Council (or its relevant subcommittee) and has completed the Seminar Series for Post Doctoral Researcher Fellows they are eligible to apply to the programmes. It will be a requirement on the part of the applicant to present evidence to support these criteria.

The final decision on eligibility of all candidates will be made by the Board of Studies on the recommendation of the Programme Director.

How to apply?
The following entry routes are available:

Prof Cert University Teaching & Learning PT (U005)
Duration 3 Years
Attend Part Time
Deadline 09-MAY-22

To apply to the Professional Certificate go to www.ucd.ie/apply

3 Years Part-Time.

Careers & Employability
The Professional Certificate (15 ECTS credits) in University Teaching and Learning is an in-service programmes for those who are currently teaching in higher education (i.e NQF level 7 or above). It offers academics at different stages of their careers opportunities to review and improve their teaching skills and their understanding of approaches and theories in effective higher education.

Academics at the start of their career will develop skills to work effectively in the classroom and learn to draw on pedagogical theory and research in informing their teaching. More experienced academics will be offered opportunities to revitalise their teaching and to try out new approaches to curriculum design and assessment.