The Academic Development team at PVCE offers a wide range of professional development programs, events and initiatives to support the development of teaching excellence for UNSW education staff.
This is a natural pathway for someone who is starting their teaching career but depending on your teaching experience and need, your journey may be different. Please refer to the relevant program page for specific requirements.
UNSW Education Professional Development Framework
A framework developed to help academic staff identify development opportunities, set professional growth goals, guide myCareer conversations and access resources for continuous improvement in teaching and learning:
Open the Professional Development Framework: Education (PDF).
Professional development programs at a glance
Programs
Beginning to Teach (BTT) Program
This program is designed to develop the teaching capability of UNSW Early Career Researchers (ECRs) and Higher Degree Research candidates (HDRs) with little to no experience of teaching.
Teaching Accelerator Program (TAP)
The Teaching Accelerator Program introduces new and new-to-UNSW academics to practices, process and expectations for teaching at UNSW. It is practical and hands-on, drawing on the experience of colleagues and students to prepare you to start teaching at UNSW, while connecting you with a peer group and a peer mentor.
Foundations of University Learning and Teaching (FULT) Program
The FULT program is offered to UNSW teaching staff who wish to develop their practice by exploring a range of perspectives, ideas, theories, and practical approaches to learning and teaching in the higher education context.
Course Design Institute (CDI) - Intensive or Modular
UNSW Course Design Institute (CDI) is designed to guide participants through the instructional design and redesign process in an intensive or modular mode. The institute will provide participants with the skills, knowledge, and support necessary to foster a learner-centred environment.
Program Level Approach to Assessment
UNSW is committed to shifting assessments from the course level to program level. To support this transition, PVCE is committed to uplifting the knowledge and capabilities for Program Authorities through dedicated Professional Development delivered by our Academic Development team.
Timely development opportunities
Self-paced Professional Learning Modules
As part of the Continuing Professional Development Framework, the Academic Development Services team offer self-paced learning modules in Contemporary Approaches to University Teaching and Moodle training tutorials.
Educational Technology Support
Online courses, resources and how to access support for technology enabled learning and teaching such as Moodle and mediaUcreate.
Event series & resources
Inclusive Teaching Workshops
This series of workshops provides information, engaging activities and collaborative opportunities. They aim to support the development of inclusive teaching pedagogy and understanding of underrepresented student cohorts.
Scholarship of Teaching of Learning (SoTL) sessions
Understand the concept of SoTL and discuss why it’s important to engage in educational research and evaluation. Learn real-life examples from SoTL experts on how SoTL strategies have been used to impact student learning and how you can integrate them into your teaching.
See more teaching and learning related events and news at UNSW
More opportunities
Academic Mentoring
Academic Mentoring at UNSW is an evidence based approach to mentoring that aims to build successful mentoring relationships across the institution. There are a suite of resources available to assist mentors and mentees on their mentoring journey, using an easy step-by-step process.
Education Focussed Careers
Education Focussed Careers offer a new career path for academics who are talented and passionate teachers and are key to the enrichment of the student experience at UNSW.
Higher Education Academy (HEA) Fellowship
The HEA Fellowship is an internationally recognised badge of expertise and experience for those who teach and support learning in higher education. Learn more about fellowship pathways and access a range of resources, events, and accreditation programs.
Grants, Awards and Fellowships
The process and acknowledgement of applying for grants, awards and fellowships are important ways to develop professionally and to promote and support the enhancement of learning and teaching at UNSW and across the higher education sector. Click to learn more about the support offered and how to apply.
Support for Sessional Staff
Speak to your faculty contact for more information around support for sessional staff. Some faculties also offer discipline specific support for sessional staff. There are also resources available which help sessional staff tackle the key areas and issues related to teaching and learning.
Peer Review of Teaching
Engaging in a peer review contributes to your professional development. All teaching staff are expected to partake in the formative peer review process within their faculty as both reviewers and reviewees at least once every two years. The formative peer review process focuses on areas of improvement, producing actionable outcomes that contribute to reflective practice and myCareer plans.
Networks, Groups and Communities of Practice
There are a growing number of both formal and informal communities of practice, groups and networks in learning and teaching at UNSW. These communities are formed around a shared area of interest in learning and teaching.
Consult your Faculty contacts for further opportunities, advice and support specifically related to your discipline.
The UNSW Culture and Development Unit, as part of UNSW Human Resources, offer career development courses, seminars and other initiatives.