Fee-free program at Sydney to accelerate your teaching career

Supporting our strategy to transform the learning experience of students, the University encourages staff to stay up to date with the latest principles, methods and tools in higher education. A great opportunity to do this is through the Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies (Higher Education), which is now open for enrolments to the 2020 program.

The one-year program provides staff with the opportunity to learn about current practices, debates and research in higher education. As part of our professional learning and support environment, the course is free for University staff and affiliates who teach Sydney students.

Pro Vice-Chancellor, Educational Innovation, Professor Adam Bridgeman, says the program is a valuable way for teachers to gain new knowledge and skills they can apply to innovating their practices.

“Participants will find the program both thought-provoking and practical, using an evidence-based approach to excellence in teaching. For Sydney staff, it’s additionally a great opportunity to connect with and gain insights from peers across the University,” says Professor Bridgeman.

In many ways I feel like I have become a part of a community of teachers from across the University. Even though our disciplines may be different – many of us are facing similar challenges and have a lot to learn from each other.

Feedback on the program

Read what some participants have to say about the program.

Dr Steven Hitchcock, Lecturer, University of Sydney Business School

“For me, the motivation was as simple as wanting to be a better teacher. While I feel confident about parts of my practice, having the opportunity to develop my practice in a way that would make a meaningful difference for my students was really exciting for me.

“In many ways I feel like I have become a part of a community of teachers from across the University. Even though our disciplines may be different – many of us are facing similar challenges and have a lot to learn from each other. Our group assignment had us working on inter-disciplinary teams to solve a common problem and was a real highlight of the year for me.”

Dr Anna Lawrenson, Lecturer in Museum and Heritage Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

“It has allowed me to situate my teaching practice in a theoretical context. This gave me greater confidence in my own practice because I am now able to draw on a body of pedagogical literature as evidence for my approaches to teaching.

“Beyond that, the opportunity for personal reflection and peer-to-peer discussion, alongside the impetus to seek out a student perspective on teaching and learning, I feel has made me a more well-rounded educator.”

The Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies (Higher Education) comprises four units, two each semester, and involves a combination of face-to-face sessions, online learning and assessment activities. Applications for enrolment close 11 February 2020. For more information, please get in touch with [email protected].

This article has been republished with permission from Staff News.