Teaching Foundations: RPL Module Stream

The Teaching Foundations RPL module provides a brief overview of the Teaching Foundations course, the Professional Standards Framework and key learning materials. It focuses on introducing the assessment task and giving you an opportunity to connect with other participants.

What will the RPL Module lead to?

After successfully completing the Teaching Foundations RPL Module, you will have:   

• a knowledge base in curriculum, assessment, and pedagogy combined with insight into the UQ policy context, educational technologies, and teaching support available;
• a strong evidence-base to support your future career aspirations including a peer observation report, samples of student evaluation, and a portfolio of lesson plans, innovative teaching practices and learning resources;
• a teaching philosophy statement demonstrating how you creatively connect curriculum, assessment and pedagogy to foster active participation and learning in your disciplinary and teaching context;
• a set of teaching goals with associated activities and indicators to evidence progress of educational goals that align with the UQ APD annual process; and 
• recognition as an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. 

UQ staff who have substantial teaching experience who wish to engage with the Graduate Certificate in University Teaching Practice.

Each offering is capped at 40 participants and will only proceed if minimum enrolment numbers are met.

Schedule

 Assessment

You will compile a teaching portfolio comprising the assessment tasks below, each focusing on different areas of your learning and teaching practice. If you have previously completed Teaching@UQ or the GTA program, you may draw on relevant materials developed in those programs.

Assessment Tasks: 

1. Teaching context and philosophy 
2. Critical observation of teaching practice of others
3. Evidence of planning and practice
4. Reflection on practice

In addition to a 2-hour workshop (conducted in-person or online) you can expect to need to commit approximately 20 hours to complete all the assessment activities and engage with the readings and course materials.

Upon successful completion, you will:

• Be awarded the Teaching Foundations Certificate.
• Become an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA), a mark of professional recognition that enhances your teaching career globally.
• Join a community of over 190,000 educators worldwide who hold Fellowship status with Advance HE.
• Be invited to apply for admission to the Graduate Certificate in University Teaching Practice (eligibility criteria apply).

The RPL module has been developed in the context of UQ’s policies and the Academic Annual Performance Development (APD) process, so will also support you to develop your career in higher education. 

Successful completion of the RPL module involves active participation in online activities, undertaking workshops (with peer feedback) and passing summative assessment tasks. 

Your pathway to the Graduate Certificate in University Teaching Practice

Participants who successfully complete the RPL module will be invited to apply for admission to the Graduate Certificate in University Teaching Practice (eligibility criteria apply).

If admitted to the Graduate Certificate you will receive credit for Teaching Foundations (EDHE6001), the first course in the program, and be on your way to earning the full qualification.

To be eligible you must:

1. hold a minimum of an undergraduate degree from any institution
2. be  employed by UQ (full-time, part-time or sessional) or hold a current Academic Title Holder (ATH) appointment for the duration of the course
3. teach or support learning of UQ higher education students, with approximately 20 contact hours across a whole semester. This appointment could be in a casual or continuing, full-time or part-time, academic or professional capacity
4. be able to attend the 2-hour workshop
5. have support from your line manager to participate in the course
6. be able to facilitate a teaching activity during the course*
7. acknowledge that successful completion of the course requires an observation of your teaching practice by an expert educator, and that it is your responsibility to identify and approach a suitable observer; and
8. Meet one of the following criteria:
   • a. have over five years of substantive teaching experience at UQ, including course coordination**, or
   • b. are an experienced academic at Level C or D with teaching responsibilities, or
   • c. have a HEA Fellowship (AFHEA, FHEA, SFHEA, PFHEA), or 
   • d. have participated in another Teaching Foundations stream without completing the assessment tasks, or have completed an earlier iteration of the Teaching@UQ or GTA program in 2023/2024.

*To successfully complete the course and meet assessment requirements, you must be able to deliver a teaching activity during the course (that is, after the workshop and before the assessment submission deadline). Teaching activities means both interaction with students as well as planning of learning. Examples include a tutorial, lecture, lunchtime education session, group supervision session, lab induction, i.e. an activity that demonstrates interactions with groups of learners.   Please note that one-to-one supervision or lab induction sessions generally do not provide sufficient scope to observe teaching practice sufficient to endorse the requirements for assessment. 

**Applicants applying under criterion 7a must demonstrate they have had sustained responsibility for curriculum structure and content over the required period. Given the nature of casual appointments, meeting this criterion may be less common; however, all applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis. If an application does not sufficiently demonstrate this level of responsibility, the applicant may be redirected to another Teaching Foundations stream

Eligibility criteria may expand in future rounds to include other aspects. 

Eligibility of employees of UQ affiliate organisations

Individuals employed by UQ business affiliates or controlled entities may hold UQ affiliate accounts that provide access to UQ services. However, a UQ affiliate account does not constitute employment with The University of Queensland.

Where capacity permits, ITaLI may welcome employees of UQ business affiliates to participate in workshops and learning activities for professional development purposes. However, eligibility to complete course assessment requirements and receive a Certificate of Completion is generally limited to UQ employees and Academic Title Holders who teach or support the learning of UQ higher education students. This limitation is due to accreditation and legislation requirements.

Applications from employees of UQ business affiliates are assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the full eligibility criteria, the individual's teaching context, and the students they teach or support.

Applications for the 2027 offerings will be open during the periods shown below. Applications forms will become available on the relevant opening date.

To register your interest and receive updates when 2027 applications open, please contact professional.learning@uq.edu.au. 

Course quota

Enrolments are capped at 40 participants per offering. Submitting an application does not guarantee a place in the course. Where the number of applications exceeds course capacity, eligible applications will be prioritised according to alignment with the target audience, appointment classification, and demonstrated merit, based on the information provided in the application. 

If you have any questions regarding your suitability or any other aspects of your application, please email professional.learning@uq.edu.au or register for a 1:1 consultation.