New Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education (PGCTHE)
| NB: this information relates only to PGCTHE participants registered from September 2012. If you registered before September 2012 please follow this link to the appropriate webpages. |
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Welcome to the Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education (PGCTHE) at Aberystwyth University.
The PGCTHE is designed for staff who teach and support learning in Higher Education across a wide variety of contexts, from lecturing and distance learning to adult education. The programme is accredited by the Higher Education Academy, a national and independent organisation which promotes excellent learning and teaching in higher education. Successful completion of the programme leads to a Master’s level qualification in the form of a Postgraduate Certificate, as well as registration with the Higher Education Academy as a Fellow (FHEA). The PGCTHE is committed to the Aberystwyth University’s Welsh Language Scheme. The programme is delivered through the medium of English and Welsh as appropriate. The Welsh medium version of the course is supported by the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol . The programme normally takes two years to complete and consists of two 30 credit modules; a brief outline is shown below but further information can be found in the PGCTHE handbook:
- Professionalizing Your Teaching in Higher Education (EDM1030) (Module 1)
This module introduces new lecturing and teaching staff to the academic teaching environment. There is a focus on ‘practice’ and professionalization in teaching. You will develop a practical tool kit to build confidence in a range of teaching and learning contexts in Higher Education. The module also begins to scaffold the necessary theoretical and reflective elements needed in module 2.
- Action Research and Reflective Practice in Higher Education (EDM023) (Module 2)
This course builds on ‘Professionalizing your teaching’ to develop research and scholarship skills through which you can independently evaluate the impact of you teaching and plan activities to improve student learning. This work-based module focuses on research methods for teaching and learning in higher education. It looks at ‘theories of change’ and other approaches to evaluating the impact of teaching methods and activities on student learning. It develops your awareness and competence in the use of action-research, evidence-informed practice and reflective practice in improving student learning. It further develops understandings of theories of learning and teaching introduced in EDM0130 (Module 1). Through two independent action research projects developed alongside ‘action learning sets’ with colleagues and reflection on continuing professional development, participants will develop a solid evidence base on which they can inform decisions about teaching and independently evaluate and develop further innovations to improve the learning experience and develop teaching excellence.
Entry Requirements
The PGCTHE is open to all staff teaching at any level, both full time and part time. Participants in Module 1 should have a minimum of 40 hours contact teaching time over the duration of the module (normally 7-10 months). There is, however, scope to consider other staff on a case-by- case basis based on their past and future teaching remits. Participants in Module 2 must have completed Module 1 and must have a teaching commitment of 40 contact hours over the year. This is mandatory for Module 2 because the assessment is based on action research.
Inductions for module 1 will be held in September 2012 and January 2013.
Registration for Module 2 will not start until September 2013. Please see the dates page for more information.
For further information about the modules please contact the Learning and Teaching Co-ordinator via e-mail pgcthe@aber.ac.uk
Please also see the handbook for content and assessment outlines for the module.