Teaching Foundations: CaPE@UQ Stream

CaPE@UQ invites clinical and practice educators to embark on a transformative journey – one that redefines what it means to teach in today’s clinical and practice environments.

This is your opportunity to move beyond traditional models of education as mere knowledge delivery and embrace a student-centred approach that empowers learners to take charge of the educational journey.

In this dynamic professional development course, educators are empowered to become facilitators, supervisors, and/or mentors – supporting students to think critically, solve real-world problems, and take ownership of their learning. Whether you're new to clinical or practice education or seeking to refine your practice and gain international certification, CaPE@UQ offers a supportive and enriching pathway to becoming an impactful educator.

The course blends foundational theory with practical application, emphasising contemporary teaching approaches tailored to clinical and practice-based contexts. Through thoughtfully designed assessment tasks, participants will build a professional portfolio that showcases their education development and reflective practice.

CaPE@UQ is taught via workshops (conducted in-person or online) pre-reading, online activities and peer-to-peer feedback. 

What will CaPE@UQ lead to?

After successfully completing CaPE@UQ, you will have:

• a knowledge base in contemporary clinical and practice education approaches, 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 learning activities, innovative teaching practices and reflections
• a teaching philosophy statement demonstrating how you creatively foster active participation and learning in your disciplinary and teaching context
• a set of education goals with associated activities to continue to progress educational goals in your clinical or practice education context
• an opportunity to gain an international recognition as an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

CaPE@UQ is for clinical and practice educators who are new to teaching and want to build their skills, as well as those looking to refine their practice and gain international certification.

This includes:

• UQ clinical and practice educators with teaching responsibilities
• UQ Academic Title Holders involved in teaching or learning support
• industry-based clinical and practice educators who support UQ student learning.

For more details, refer to the eligibility criteria.

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

The course schedules below are provisional and subject to room availability.

Summer Semester (February) Intensive (15 February – 29 April 2027)

Assessment deadlines

• Teaching context and philosophy: 9 March 2027
• Critical observation of teaching practices of others: 6 April 2027
• Evidence of practice: 29 April 2027
• Reflection on practice: 29 April 2027

Semester 2 (9 August – 28 October 2027)

Assessment deadlines

• Teaching context and philosophy: 31 August 2027
• Critical observation of teaching practices of others: 28 September 2027
• Evidence of planning and practice of others: 28 October 2027
• Reflection on practice: 28 October 2027

CaPE@UQ is free to eligible UQ staff, UQ Academic Title Holders and industry-based clinical and practice educators who support UQ student learning.

In addition to time spent in workshops and completing learning activities, it's recommended you set aside between 3-10 hours per week to complete independent study which includes readings, preparatory work, online modules and assignments.

If you have planned long overseas absences or are in the final stages of thesis write-up, we recommend that you complete CaPE@UQ at another time.

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

CaPE@UQ 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 CaPE@UQ involves active participation in online activities, undertaking workshops (with peer feedback) and passing summative assessment tasks.

*Industry-based clinical and practice educators are required to evidence their contribution to UQ student learning as part of the course assessment before the Teaching Foundations Certificate and AFHEA credential can be awarded. 

Your pathway to the Graduate Certificate in University Teaching Practice

While CaPE@UQ can be completed as a standalone course, CaPE@UQ can also be recognised as the first of four courses in the Graduate Certificate in University Teaching Practice. UQ staff and UQ Academic Title Holders who successfully complete CaPE@UQ will be invited to apply for admission to the Graduate Certificate in University Teaching Practice (program eligibility criteria apply, including a requirement to be employed by UQ or hold a current UQ Academic Title Holder with teaching and/or teaching and learning support responsibilities for the duration of the program).

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 be one of the following:

1. UQ clinical or practice educator who teaches or supports learning of UQ higher education students;
2. UQ Academic Title Holder teaching or supporting learning of UQ higher education students;
3. Industry-based clinical or practice educator who will be undertaking UQ WIL activities (e.g. clinical placements) or teaching UQ higher education students during the course; or
4. Industry-based clinical or practice educator who has evidence of UQ WIL activities (e.g. clinical placements) or teaching UQ higher education students within the 12 months preceding the course start date and within 3 months of the course start date. 

You must also:

• hold a minimum of an Undergraduate degree from any institution;
• be able to attend all workshops and participate in all learning activities outlined in the course schedule;
• have approximately 3-10 hours per week to complete preparatory work, independent study and assignments;
• have support from your Head of School or line manager to participate in the course;
• have the opportunity to deliver an education activity during the course*; and
• acknowledge the requirement to source an expert educator to observe your teaching practice as part of the course.

If you do not meet all eligibility criteria, your application may not be approved.

*To successfully complete the course and meet assessment requirements, you must be able to engage with an education activity during the course (that is, after the commencement of the course and before the final assessment submission deadline). Education 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, clinical education of students on placement, simulation education 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. 

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. For the purposes of CaPE@UQ, employees of these organisations are generally considered industry-based clinical or practice educators and are eligible to apply, provided they meet the course eligibility criteria.

Applications for the 2027 offerings will be open during the period shown below. Application forms will become available on the relevant opening dates.

Submitting an application does not guarantee a place in the course. Where the number of eligible applications exceeds the course capacity, applicants will be merit listed based on evidence provided of their contribution to student learning (including work integrated learning activities). 

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