Following a stint in the classroom, a group of eight Massey University staff and 16 PhD students are now better qualified to take charge in their own classrooms, having been made associate fellows of the Higher Education Academy.
They received the globally-recognised credential in higher education teaching, having completed the Introduction to Teaching programme offered since last year. Massey is first New Zealand university permitted to offer a development programme accredited by the academy.
The programme ran over 13 weeks and was facilitated by the University’s National Centre for Teaching and Learning. Director of learning and teaching Duncan O’Hara says he expects even more staff and students to participate in the programme this year.
“We are planning to have at least two more cohorts this year. By mid-year we also expect to offer accredited programmes for associate fellow through to senior fellow.”
Massey University is one of only 10 institutions outside Britain to offer an accredited programme. Last year, the academy, an organisation which champions excellence in teaching and learning, named its 90,000th fellow. For more information.