Graduation of a different sort comes on April 8 for 10 University
of British Columbia faculty members who are the first-ever class
to complete the UBC Certificate Program on Teaching in Higher Education.
“I congratulate the graduates of this program,” says UBC President
Martha Piper. “They are demonstrating a commitment to enhanced student
learning and to developing their professional skills.”
A pilot program of UBC’s Centre for Teaching and Academic Growth
(TAG), which began in 1987 to build teaching skills of UBC faculty
and graduate students, the certificate program is unique in Canada
because it relates strictly to faculty rather than graduate students
and gives participants credit for prior learning.
Junior and tenured faculty in disciplines including Education,
Science and Pharmaceutical Sciences completed the program.
Integrating theory and practice with 150 hours of interactive modular
workshops, the program also includes discussion and critical analysis,
peer feedback on teaching sessions, and independent professional
development activities.
Topics are based on needs assessments done by TAG and include adult
learning theory, curriculum development, course design and assessing
student learning.
Participants, who receive a pass or fail grade, are assessed according
to self-reports, peer feedback and a portfolio describing teaching
experience. All this year’s participants passed..
New faculty in universities in the U.K. and Australia are required
to take similar certification in the first two years of teaching.
UBC’s program has a waiting list of 75 people.
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