NZ Foundations of University Teaching and Learning

Programmes: An Overview

Adelaide Foundations Colloquium21 –22 October 2004

Dr Kathryn SutherlandUniversity Teaching Development Centre

Victoria University of WellingtonNew Zealand

Induction Programmes

All 8 NZ universities have induction programmes

Key features: Usually 1-2 days long Commonly organised by HR/Org. Development Often held in conjunction with/prior to Teaching Days Aim to introduce staff to the wider University

environment VC usually opens programme/does welcome Policy, people, procedure focussed

Induction Innovations

Powhiri (formal Maori welcome) Expo or Fair Wine and Cheese reception CD-Rom of information Induction checklists and resource packs New Managers’ Induction programme (Massey)

Introduction to University Teaching ProgrammesAll 8 universities offer an ‘Introduction to University

Teaching and Learning’ programme of sorts

Vary from 3 days to semester long

Often workshop based(3 hours-half day). Common topics:

Lecturing/large group teaching

Assessment

Course Design

Supervision

…Intro to Uni Teaching continued

Other topics include: Treaty of Waitangi Research Small group teaching Teaching international students Microteaching Online learning

Intro to Teaching Innovations Certificates awarded by VC Many programmes now mandatory T4T4T (Canterbury) Online Learning and Teaching Certificate (Massey) Survival Guide (VUW)

Postgraduate Certificates

Six NZ universities offer PG Certificates in Tertiary Teaching

• 5 are nationally recognised (have NZQA approval)• 1 is an internal university qualification (UofA)• 3 are taught by the School/Faculty of Education in

conjunction with the Academic Development Unit• 3 are taught by the Academic Development Unit• 2 programmes are taught collaboratively (Otago and

Canterbury)

…PG Certs continued…

Of the other two universities:• VUW will offer a pilot PG Cert in 2005• Lincoln encourages staff to complete Certificates

through a neighbouring university (Canterbury)

PG Cert Innovations

Mandatory for new staff at AUT Free for full-time staff (charge for part-time) at AUT Some universities offer PG Diplomas and/or MEd Often a portfolio focus for the second paper Certificate of Academic Practice at Otago in 2006 Leadership Development programme at VUW in 2005

Tutor Programmes

Support for tutors varies greatly across universities

Three institutions (Auckland, Massey and VUW) have comprehensive tutor training programmes which culminate in a Certificate of Attendance

Two (Canterbury and Otago) train Teaching Assistants or tutor trainers and/or work within departments

The other three are either developing new programmes or revamping old ones

Tutor Innovations

Tutor Survival Guide (VUW) Mandatory three hour introductory workshop for new

tutors (VUW) Combination of generic and discipline-based

approaches (AUT, Waikato and Auckland) Consultation/observation of teaching (Lincoln) Train the Trainers combined with training the tutors

(Otago in 2005)

Key Issues Facing NZ Programmes

supporting all staff working with international/NESB students supporting new international academics raising awareness of bi-cultural issues among international

academics new to New Zealand raising multi-cultural awareness amongst all staff standards of post-graduate certificates accreditation requirements in the future (given the UK

experience) and the possibility of rumoured performance-based tuition funding

the implementation of the government-initiated Performance Based Research Fund (PBRF) and the potential threat to teaching quality and workloads (ours and theirs)

the issue of workload and job pleasure/viability and how we can support staff in negotiating this