Overview

The Foundations of University Teaching and Learning programme is designed to support University of Malta academics in developing a comprehensive understanding of university teaching and learning within a collegial environment.

This programme offers valuable insights and practical skills to enhance teaching practices for academics at various career stages. Early-career academics will gain a solid foundation in the principles of university-level teaching and learning, while experienced academics will be introduced to innovative teaching approaches.

Aims

The primary aim of this programme is to contribute to the continuous enhancement of teaching strategies and effective learning at the University of Malta. Specific aims include:

• Increasing participants' awareness of teaching approaches that enhance student learning.
• Helping participants become reflective practitioners.
• Providing opportunities for participants to experiment with new teaching methods and improve their practical teaching skills.
• Facilitating networking among academics from different disciplines, fostering lasting connections within the university teaching and learning community.

These aims will be achieved through the participants’ engagement with pedagogical issues relevant to higher education during in-class and online discussions, and the practical application of acquired skills.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the programme, participants will be able to

• critically analyse and engage in discussions about teaching and learning in higher education.
• design and develop a study unit based on defined learning outcomes.
• design and deliver effective, engaging, and inclusive lectures.
• design and facilitate small group teaching sessions.
• incorporate mainstream learning technologies effectively in teaching.
• design formative and summative assessments that address learning outcomes.
• provide effective feedback for student learning.
• evaluate their own teaching methods.
• reflect on their teaching practices and use these reflections for continuous improvement.

Recognising the need to balance teaching and research, the programme also aims to equip participants with practical strategies to maximise the efficiency and impact of their teaching efforts.

Topics

The programme covers these topics:

• Understanding learning and students
• Designing the study-unit
• Large group teaching
• Small group teaching
• Incorporating technologies in teaching
• Designing summative and formative assessment
• Academic integrity
• Providing feedback for student learning
• Supporting student diversity
• Evaluating teaching
• Supervising dissertations & projects

Delivery

The programme offers a blend of class-based sessions and asynchronous online learning. Class-based sessions are structured as interactive workshops with group discussions.

Text Books & Learning Resources

Links to key readings and other learning resources will be delivered through the VLE.

Prerequisites

Participants should be teaching a study-unit during Semester 1 or 2 to be able to complete the action research project.

Participants are expected to have basic skills in using the VLE. This programme does not provide initial training in the use of the VLE. Participants are encouraged to follow the Getting Started with the VLE workshop.

Completion Requirements

A ‘Certificate of Completion’ is awarded to participants who:

1. Attend and participate in at least 85% of the class-based and online sessions.
2. Complete the microteaching components,
3. Complete the action research project.

Registration

The programme is offered once every academic year with a maximum enrollment of 26 participants to ensure individual attention. Priority is given to academics at the grade of a Resident Lecturer. This programme is a requirement for promotion to the grade of a Resident Senior Lecturer.

Email notifications for registration are sent in June to resident academics at the grade of Lecturer or Assistant Lecturer for the programme commencing in September.