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Graduate Certificate in Education (University Teaching)

Overview

The University of South Australia has offered a Graduate Certificate in Education (University Teaching) from the beginning of 2007. This award is offered through the School of Education but is jointly taught by staff from the Learning and Teaching Unit and the School of Education.

For University of South Australia academic staff (Levels A – C) the Graduate Certificate is mandated as a condition of probation for all new continuing academic staff and staff on fixed term contracts greater than 3 years (who are employed as of 1 January 2007). Staff in these categories will be funded to complete the Graduate Certificate. Other staff may also enrol in the Graduate Certificate but will have to negotiate arrangements with their Head of School. See Eligibility and funding arrangements below for more information.

Staff who have completed the Teaching @ UniSA program will be able to apply for credit for part of the first course.

Program information

Full program information is available from the program home page. The program consists of 4 courses. UniSA staff will normally undertake one course per study period.

Specialisation Coordinator

The Specialisation Coordinator is Assoc Prof Gavin Sanderson, Deputy Director, Learning and Teaching Unit. Contact Gavin if you have any enquiries about the Graduate Certificate in Education (University Teaching).

How to apply

Staff can apply through Apply Online. Enquiries about this process can be directed to Ms Maria Arena, Academic Services Officer in EAS.

Eligibility and funding arrangements

SMG agreed in April 2006 that mandating the program for continuing staff will be limited to staff who are appointed at Levels A – C. Arrangements for casual staff and fixed term contract staff to complete Teaching @ UniSA will remain in place. Discussion has taken place with the Human Resources Unit on how to implement these requirements and their application to the various staff groups will be as follows:

Continuing Academic Staff

New continuing academic staff (Levels A – C) appointed as of 1 January 2007 will be required to complete the program as a condition of probation. Adjustments have been made to letters of offer and to the Policy – Probation for Academic Staff (Policy Hr 7.4) to accommodate these changes. Staff employed at Level D or E will be encouraged to participate in elements of the program that are relevant to their role and induction.

Note that Graduate Studies has indicated that it will allow staff members who are presently engaged in higher degree studies to also undertake the Graduate Certificate in Education (University Teaching) if their University work and higher degree studies permit this.

Fixed term contract academic staff

Staff employed on fixed term contracts under 3 years will be required to complete Teaching @ UniSA (26 hour program) within their contract period. Fixed term contract academic staff (Levels A – C) on contracts greater than 3 years will be required to complete the Graduate Certificate under the same arrangements which apply to continuing staff.

Casual Staff (sessional/hourly paid)

Casual staff teaching more than 13 hours in a study period and/or who are in the second contract of employment will be required to complete Teaching @ UniSA (see Protocols for the Management of Casual Academic Staff). All casual staff should complete Tutoring @ UniSA as part of their Teaching @ UniSA program. Staff will continue to be paid by their Schools for their involvement in the 26 hour program. For staff in the Division of EASS, approval and payment is administered through the Office of the Dean Teaching and Learning.

Research only staff

The conditions outlined above do not apply to research only staff, however research only staff who are employed on a continuing basis and may wish to complete the Grad Cert in Education (University Teaching) may enrol under the same conditions as outlined above for continuing staff. They should seek their line manager's approval to do this.

Mandated staff studying doctoral programs

Academic staff who are presently studying a doctoral program can delay beginning the Graduate Certificate until the completion of their research higher degree.

Deemed equivalence

Deemed equivalence through (i) holding relevant qualifications, and (ii) demonstration of quality teaching 

Staff can apply for recognition of existing qualifications as providing the equivalent knowledge and skills to the Graduate Certificate if they hold a teaching qualification or a graduate certificate in tertiary teaching from another Higher Education Provider. Applications need to include certified true copies of qualifications. A statement of no greater than 500 words that demonstrates the relevance of the teaching qualification is also required. Note that in addition to holding relevant qualifications, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) has determined that deemed equivalence for the entire Graduate Certificate will only be granted upon demonstration of quality teaching through Student Evaluation of Teaching (SET) data that are benchmarked against the SET scores of their School.

Staff who are successful in their deemed equivalence application through this pathway will still need to complete Teaching @ UniSA and Supervising @ UniSA as part of their induction program when they commence employment with the University (or within a certain period as per the policy).

Deemed equivalence through Recognition of Prior Learning   

Staff can apply for recognition of prior learning (RPL) for any of the four courses that comprise the Graduate Certificate. Applications for RPL need to be accompanied by a portfolio of evidence that includes a clear statement about the courses and/or learning outcomes from courses for which recognition is sought. Note that University policy stipulates that RPL can account for a maximum of one-third of the total units (one 4.5 unit course) of a Graduate Certificate program. Additional credit may be granted for non-award courses offered by the University.

Evidence can include:

For example:

Process

If deemed equivalence is sought, the Application for Deemed Equivalence (Word doc 19.54KB - opens in new window) should be completed. The completed application and any relevant documents supporting the application should then be sent to the Director: Learning and Teaching as well as the Head of School and Divisional/CRE Dean Teaching and Learning. All applications will ultimately be considered by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) and a decision will be communicated to the staff member, the Learning and Teaching Unit and the Head of School and Dean Teaching and Learning.

Further Information

For further information contact: Associate Professor Gavin Sanderson, Specialisation Coordinator, Graduate Certificate in Education (University Teaching).

 

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