Explore UCD

UCD Home >

Professional Development

Modules on offer

Choose two modules for the Professional Certificate. Two modules must be completed on the basis of one module per trimester. Successful applicants to the Professional Certificate starting in January 2025 choose one module to be completed in the Spring trimester (January to April 2025) and a second module in the Autumn trimester (September to December 2025).

Or

Choose one module for the Certificate of Continuing Professional Development. Successful applicants to the Certificate of Continuing Professional Development starting in January 2025 can choose one module from those on offer in the Spring trimester (January to April 2025).

In making the decision about your module of choice you may like to explore the Overview of modules and UTL Programme Handbook

Please note the programme handbook is subject to change. 

Academic year 2024/25 (January start)

Spring Trimester

January to April 2025

UTL40190 Active Learning with Technology (online)

UTL40250 Teaching Across Cultures (online)

UTL40140 Assessment and Feedback in Higher Education (in person) 

See Professional Programmes timetable Spring Trimester 2024_25 for details of the sessions of the modules on offer in the trimester. Please note that the timetable is subject to change

Autumn Trimester 

September to December 2025

UTL40180 Reflective practice in Teaching and Learning (formerly Becoming a Better University Teacher) (in person)

UTL40200 Designing Curricula (online)

UTL40260 Leading in University Teaching & Learning (online)

Timetable details of the sessions of the modules will be available in due course. 

Academic Year 2024/25 (September start)

Autumn Trimester 

September to December 2024

UTL40180 Becoming a Better University Teacher (online)

UTL40200 Designing Curricula (in person)

UTL40260 Leading in University Teaching & Learning (in person)

See Professional Programmes timetable Autumn Trimester 2024_25 for details of the sessions of the modules on offer in the trimester. Please note that the timetable is subject to change.

 

Spring Trimester

January to April 2025

UTL40190 Active Learning with Technology (online)

UTL40250 Teaching Across Cultures (online)

UTL40140 Assessment and Feedback in Higher Education (in person)

See Professional Programmes timetable Spring Trimester 2024_25 for details of the sessions of the modules on offer in the trimester. Please note that the timetable is subject to change.

Academic year 2023/24 (January start)

Spring Trimester

January to April 2024

UTL40190 Active Learning with Technology

UTL40250 Teaching Across Cultures

UTL40140 Assessment and Feedback in Higher Education

See Professional Programmes timetable Spring Trimester 2023_24 for details of the sessions of the modules on offer in the trimester. Please note that the timetable is subject to change

Autumn Trimester 

September to December 2024

UTL40180 Becoming a Better University Teacher (online)

UTL40200 Designing Curricula

UTL40260 Leading in University Teaching & Learning

See Professional Programmes timetable Autumn Trimester 2024_25 for details of the sessions of the modules on offer in the trimester. Please note that the timetable is subject to change. 

Assoc Prof Geraldine O'Neill Introduction to Programmes

Please ensure you have cookies enabled on your browser to view the video. If you cannot see the video, go to cookie preferences and allow targeting cookies.

Play video

Features

These programmes provide a professional qualification for staff in university teaching and learning by addressing the contemporary challenges of teaching in higher education. Research-informed and experiential approaches are used to assist staff in developing a repertoire of teaching, learning and assessment strategies, energising approaches to student learning and transforming educational perspectives and practices.

  • A professional qualification in university teaching and learning
  • Taught by experienced academic staff
  • Revised shorter programme in recognition of demands on academic staff time
  • Support for you in your teaching roles
  • Research-informed and experiential approaches to developing your repertoire of teaching, learning and assessment strategies
  • Learn about creative approaches to teaching through discussion with your peers

Dr Joseph Mooney

UCD School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice

Play video

Dr Georgiana Ifrim

UCD School of Computer Science

Play video

Associate Professor Peter Doran

UCD School of Medicine

Play video

Dr Annette Clancy

UCD School of Art History and Cultural Policy

Play video

Dr Joseph Mooney

UCD School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice

Dr Georgiana Ifrim

UCD School of Computer Science

Associate Professor Peter Doran

UCD School of Medicine

Dr Annette Clancy

UCD School of Art History and Cultural Policy

Frequently Asked Questions

If you cannot find the answer to your question below, please contact teachingandlearning@ucd.ie 

Entry to the Professional Certificate and the Certificate of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is open to all faculty and academic-related who meet the following three criteria:

1) currently teaching in higher education (i.e. within a university or at NFQ level 7 or above).
2) in an active teaching role including design, delivery and assessment of modules
3) undertaking a significant teaching commitment, defined as a minimum of 2 hours teaching per week per semester or 48 hours over the course of the academic year. 

These programmes are generally not suitable for Postdoctoral Research Fellows (PD Fellows). A bespoke Seminar Series for Post Doctoral Research Fellows is offered by UCD Teaching and Learning. Contact researchcareers@ucd.ie for further information and to register.

In the exceptional circumstances where a PD Fellow (level 2) is approved as module coordinator by Academic Council (or its relevant subcommittee) and has already completed the Seminar Series for Post Doctoral Research Fellows they may apply to enter the programmes. The onus is on the applicant to provide evidence that they meet these two conditions.

 

No, these programmes are not suitable for post-graduate students. There are other teaching development opportunities available for post-graduate students.

 

Application to the programmes starting in January 2025 are now open. Applications will close on Monday 25th November 2024. 

The final decision on the eligibility of all candidates will be made by the UTL Board of Studies. 

The programme is overseen by the Academic Affairs Board of Studies, chaired by Professor Colin Scott (Registrar and Deputy President) which is responsible for the design, development, regulation, quality and general oversight of the Professional Certificate and Certificate of Continuing Professional Development, University Teaching and Learning.

The programmes are subject to the University’s General Regulations available in the UCD Governance Document Library which govern taught graduate programmes; including assessment regulations; late submission of assessment; application of extenuating circumstances; withdrawal from the programmes and leave of absence requests.

The outcome of applications made to the Professional Certificate and the Certificate of CPD January 2025 start will be notified by late December 2024.

 

Yes the teaching commitment referred to in the eligibility criteria must be on accredited modules.

 

UCD Registry will allocate you a ‘Registration Start Time’ For more information please visit the Registration page on the UCD Current Students website. It is advisable to register for both modules for the full duration of the programme (as appropriate) during your allocated start time.

 

Once you have registered on a programme you must take a minimum of 7.5 credits in a trimester. In general it is recommended that students would do one module per trimester. However, if some students have more time to dedicate to CPD in teaching, it is possible to take two modules in a trimester. However, it should be noted that this 15 credit workload is equivalent to half the workload of a full time undergraduate student and it is not permissible to take two modules with a conflicting timetable.

If you are unable to take a module in any given trimester a formal leave of absence must be requested. From 1 August 2016, the standard leave of absence form can be accessed and completed via SISWeb by selecting Programme Services and My Leave of Absence/Withdrawal Requests.

 

For a 7.5 credit module you can expect to spend between 150-187 hours in total, which will include scheduled sessions, tutorials, self-directed learning tasks and practice-based activities as part of your normal teaching duties.

No. For the Professional Certificate students choose two modules (one per trimester). In general it is recommended that students would do one module per trimester. For the Certificate of Continuing Professional Development students choose one of the modules on offer. 

Yes.  Attendance at ALL scheduled sessions is required. If you miss a session due to illness or similar emergency you should contact the module coordinator as soon as possible afterwards to discuss what alternative arrangements need to be made. 

Times and dates of all module sessions appear in the Modules on Offer section of this webpage. 

Once enrolled on a programme and a module the module timetable should be accessed via Brightspace or SISWeb, where venue details will also be included. 

 

No, for faculty and academic staff who are employed by UCD, the programme fee is waived. However the fee for resit/repeat will be applied.

Please consult the UCD Withdrawal policy. From 1 August 2016, the standard withdrawal form can be accessed and completed via SISWeb by selecting Programme Services and My Leave of Absence/Withdrawal Requests. Students should still return their student card to their Programme/School Office as appropriate. Students making an application for a retrospective withdrawal from their programme are still required to complete a paper form. Please note that a withdrawal may leave you liable for fees. For further information please consult the UCD Withdrawal policy or seek advice via studentdesk@ucd.ie

The programme is subject to the University’s General Regulations which govern taught graduate programmes; including assessment regulations; late submission of assessment; application of extenuating circumstances; withdrawal from the Programmes and leave of absence requests. Further information is available at UCD Governance Document Library 

University Teaching and Learning Programmes Team

Ms Claire Deighan

Ms Claire Deighan

Programme Administrator

Claire is Programme Administrator for the accredited programmes in University Teaching and Learning and can be contacted for further information about the programmes or assistance once enrolled. Claire also acts as first point of contact for general enquiries to the unit.

Mr David Jennings

Mr David Jennings

Lecturer in Educational Technology

David is an Assistant Professor in Educational Technology. He is an Educational Developer and is Programme Director of the accredited programmes in University Teaching and Learning. David also teaches on the University Teaching and Learning programmes and has a particular focus on support for early career academics. He also provides modules and workshops for tutors and post-doctoral students.

View Profile

Dr Sheena Hyland

Dr Sheena Hyland

Lecturer in Educational Development

Sheena is an Assistant Professor in Educational Development. She teaches on the University Teaching and Learning programme and has a particular interest in the areas of assessment, inclusive and intercultural learning in higher education.

Assoc Prof Geraldine O’Neill

Assoc Prof Geraldine O’Neill

Teaching Development Officer

Geraldine is an Associate Professor and Educational Developer and teaches on the accredited programmes in University Teaching and Learning. Her key role is to support faculty in the design, implementation and evaluation of their programmes and modules. She has particular expertise in assessment and feedback approaches.

View Profile

Dr Leigh Wolf

Dr Leigh Wolf

Lecturer in Educational Development

Leigh is an Assistant Professor in Educational Development. She teaches on the University Teaching and Learning programmes. She has particular interest and expertise in all aspects of online learning, critical digital pedagogy and qualitative methodologies.

View Profile