Learning and Teaching

On this page we highlight learning and teaching professional development opportunities for anyone at NTU who is teaching and / or support learning in HE, whether new or experienced. 

What's available to help me plan my professional development?

The Learning and Teaching CPD Tool provides a summary of available learning and teaching CPD for colleagues at different stages of development. Once you know what professional development you need, use this to search for a course, event or resource to fit your stage of development.

The NTU Learning and Teaching Professional Development Framework can help you identify your professional development objectives and find CPD to address those.

Do I need to complete any specific learning and teaching professional development?

The NTU learning and teaching professional development policy sets out expectations for the professional development of all staff who teach and / or support learning at NTU, including attaining professional recognition for practice. See the Guide 2: The NTU Learning and Teaching Professional Development Policy for an overview of the policy.

Teaching qualifications and professional recognition

From 1 September 2012, new academic staff are no longer required to complete a PGCHE. Instead, they will be required to attain nationally recognised professional recognition of their practice at a level appropriate to their role.

For Lecturers / Senior Lecturers and Principal Lecturers the minimum requirement is for Level Two recognition (Fellow of the Higher Education Academy) within three years of starting at NTU. You will be given support to gain this within your first three years at NTU. It is recommended that you do this by completing either the NTU Academic Practice Award or the PGCHE. It is also advised that you complete the NTU Introduction to Academic Policy and Practice at NTU workshop (See below).

Academic Team Leaders will discuss with all academic staff during an interim PDCR December 12  / January 13, to agree an appropriate objective for gaining professional recognition. Academic staff new to teaching and supporting learning in HE are recommended to complete one of the course-based options.

Hourly-Paid Lecturers will be able to apply for professional recognition if appropriate to their role and responsibilities. Schools will make arrangements to discuss professional development with their HPLs, and agree objectives.

Postgraduate Research students who teach or are preparing to teach will be provided with the opportunity to complete short professional development programme (the NTU Initial Teaching Award Course) as part of their work towards professional recognition of teaching practice. This will also provide you with the option to complete separate academic assessment to gain 40 Master level credits (subject to validation of the award in 2013).

Technical and Professional Services staff who teach and / or support learning also have the opportunity to apply for professional recognition as appropriate to their role. It is anticipated that line managers will review professional development and agree objectives at the 2013 PDCR.

Further information on opportunities to apply for professional recognition at different levels is available on the CPD Frameworks section of the CPLD website.

What NTU-wide professional development is available?

• Teaching and Supporting Learning in HE is a CPLD-managed learning room containing a set of interactive and accessible on-line resources exploring evidence-based teaching and learning practices. Provides practical advice you can dip in and out of as often as you like to help you establish and maintain informed practice in core areas of lecturing, student discussions, assessment, marking and feedback, and designing resources that support student learning. Designed to complement and support more formal professional development short courses and activities delivered by the University and / or your School. Available in NOW – once you have logged in, find it in the list under the STAFF tab on your homepage
• For information on professional development for using Learning Technologies
• For other learning and teaching resources see the Centre for Academic Development and Quality website

Professional Development Programmes from 2013

From March 2013: Introduction to Academic Policy and Practice at NTU (IAPP) – a short introductory programme providing a context for your induction to local School or Department policy and practice.

From March 2013: The NTU Academic Practice Award (NTU APA) - a modular blended professional development programme for anyone wishing to develop their practice at Levels One and Two of the Framework, and build evidence for NTU Fellow professional recognition. Also available to more experienced colleagues as a refresher.

The NTU Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (NTU PGCHE) continues to provide a structured, validated professional development course for staff wishing to gain a postgraduate teaching qualification in addition to applying for HEA Level Two professional recognition. Also available to more experienced colleagues wishing to gain a postgraduate teaching qualification (subject to availability of funded spaces).

You can further information on programmes on the Course Directory.

Further information of local School learning and teaching professional development including mentoring and local staff development workshops and resources, is available from your School Learning and Teaching Coordinators.