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Teaching & Learning

Your Professional Development Journey

Overview

The Learning, Teaching and Assessment (LTA) team provides TU Dublin lecturers with a variety of accredited programmes and structured pathways to guide their academic development. Our programmes and awards range from digital badge mini courses to five credit micro-credentials to full Postgraduate Certificate (also here), Postgraduate Diploma and Masters awards. The range of programmes ensures that relevant options are available for all staff, regardless of the stage of their career or the level of their teaching, learning and assessment expertise.

The aim of the LTA programmes is to equip lecturers with advanced professional knowledge, understanding, and skills to take a competent and proactive role in the development and enhancement of high-quality learning experiences of their students. Grounded in a critical awareness of developments at the forefront of the field, the programmes enable lecturers to creatively explore and apply a range of ideas in curriculum design, assessment strategies, teaching and learning, and student support.

TU Dublin's academic development programmes have a strong practice-based focus, meaning that the programmes and assessment are authentically situated in the work environment of TU Dublin lecturers contribute directly to positive practice chance.

Use this section to explore the best options for you, as you continue with your professional development journey as a TU Dublin lecturer.

Choosing the Right Path for Your Professional Development Journey

Initial Engagement: PG Cert

It is strongly recommended that you commence your academic development journey through the completion of one of our practice-based Postgraduate Certificate programmes.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Arts in University Learning and Teaching (TU052) is designed for lecturers in the first five years of their academic careers. The programme's focus is on building foundational teaching competencies. It equips newly appointed academics with the knowledge and tools to develop a scholarly and reflective approach to teaching, critically evaluate their practice, and foster inclusive, student-centred learning environments. 

The Postgraduate Certificate in Arts in Higher Education Practice (TU446) guides experienced lecturers in the further development of their professional practice in university learning and teaching, as well as addressing elements of module/programme co-ordination and curriculum design. The programme is specifically designed for experienced lecturers—those with five or more years of full-time teaching experience. While it introduces foundational pedagogical principles and shares a reflective and inclusive stance on practice with TU052, it also facilitates the exploration of key areas that experienced lecturers typically encounter, for example, curriculum design, and academic leadership. 

Stackable Micro-credentials

Lecturers are invited to continue their professional development, following the completion of the Postgraduate Certificate, by completing stackable micro-credentials of 5 or 10 ECTS credits. These practice-based short courses can be completed by lecturers throughout their careers, enabling lecturers to choose the courses that are most appropriate for them at each stage of their professional development. The micro-credentials are divided into three categories:

  1. Deep Dive Micro-Credentials: These 10 ECTS credit micro-credentials address each of the following core areas in depth: Assessment and Feedback; Strategies of Teaching and Learning; Supporting Student Success; Curriculum Design. Each micro-credential culminates in an action plan to enhance practice. All four deep-dive micro-credentials are offered every academic year. 
  2. In-Practice Micro-Credentials: The action plan developed in the corresponding deep-dive is implemented and evaluated during these 5 ECTS credit micro-credentials. In-practice micro-credentials can be taken at any time, once the corresponding deep-dive has been completed.
  3. In-Focus Micro-Credentials: These 5 ECTS credit micro-credentials address specific topics such as Project Supervision; Universal Design for Learning; Technology-Enhanced LTA; Policy; Placement Design and Support. 
Major Awards: MA/PG Diploma

Lecturers can use the credits accumulated through the completion of the Postgraduate Certificate and the Micro-Credentials to achieve the awards of Postgraduate Diploma or Master of Arts in Higher Education Practice. There is no time limit within which the credits must be achieved in order to be eligible for these awards.

Digital Badge Mini-Courses

Digital badge mini-courses are offered throughout the academic year. They to not carry ECTS credits or require a significant workload from participants. They are designed to enable lecturers to explore new topics through 4-5 lunchtime sessions, 3 peer group meetings and ~10 hours of independent learning and 3 hours to complete an assessment.