The University Certificate in Academic Practice

Accredited by Advance HE

The University Certificate in Academic Practice (UCAP) is the shorter 20-credit alternative to the PGCAP primarily for part-time or sessional academics and professional services staff who teach or support learning, providing a foundation to academic practice in higher education as a standalone award.

It comprises the first module of the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) and is taught together with PGCAP participants.

Who can apply?

1. Canterbury Christ Chuch University staff, who are teaching/facilitating learning in Higher Education. Applicants must have 40 hours of contracted teaching/facilitating learning in HE during the course.

2. Staff who work at an institution that is a partner to Canterbury Christ Chuch University, who are teaching/facilitating learning in Higher Education. Applicants must have 40 hours of contracted teaching/facilitating learning in HE during the course.

 What does it cover?

The course consists of one module:

Introduction to Facilitating Learning in HE (20 credits at Level 7) 

Module Aims      

The University Certificate in Academic Practice aims to:  

• Provide you with the core knowledge and professional values necessary to design and deliver high quality learning activities within your discipline area of higher education.   

• Establish critical reflective practice and enquiry into teaching and learning as the core foundation of being an educator in a higher education context. 

• Enhance and develop your practice in learning and teaching against the UK PSF in teaching, facilitating and/or supporting learning.  

• Help you to become familiar with sources of research and scholarship on which you can draw to enhance your practice. 

• To Award the AFHEA on successful completion of the IFL module.

Module Learning Outcomes

By the end of this module you should be able to:

1.    Apply relevant HE learning, teaching and feedback strategies, theories and scholarship to design and deliver effective teaching /or support of learning within your own discipline or role;

2.    Plan and deliver effective and efficient teaching and/or support of learning, showing critical awareness of the curriculum requirements and quality assurance processes, in order to support student success;

3.    Create engaging, collaborative and inclusive learning environments to promote participation and success in HE for all individual students;

4.    Develop and maintain a critically reflective practice based on self-reflection, stakeholder feedback and other evidence, to continuously enhance your teaching and/or support of learning.

Professional accreditation

• The course is accredited by Advance HE.

• Participants successfully completing the Introduction to Facilitating Learning in HE module will be awarded the Associate Fellowship of Advance HE.

Support for participants

The course team will provide personal tutor support to all participants.

Support will be provided by individual, group and online mentoring.

If you teach on a CCCU validated award you will also be supported by your Faculty Director of Learning and Teaching as part of the Academic Professional Development Framework.

What are the entry requirements?

All applicants should have a degree or equivalent to undertake the UCAP, although there is flexibility, please contact the Course Director via the course email address: ucap_pgcap@canterbury.ac.uk to make arrangements to discuss alternative routes of entry.

You should also have sufficient teaching and supporting learning opportunities (40 hours across the duration of the course) in order to engage in the activities putting theory into practice.

The applicant must also have sufficient teaching and supporting learning opportunities at HE Foundation level, level 4 or above to engage with the critical reflective practice and observation of teaching. It is recognised that course participants on this route may not have regular opportunities to teach/support learning or that these activities are not evenly spread throughout the term.

Is the UCAP for you? 

Typically participants will hold and have the following roles and experience:

• an early career researcher with some teaching responsibilities (e.g., PhD students, GTAs, contract researchers/post-doctoral researchers, etc.);

• new to teaching (including those with part-time academic responsibilities);

• a member of staff who supports academic provision (e.g., learning technologists, learning developers and learning resource/library staff);

• a member of staff who undertakes the role of technician with some teaching-related responsibilities;

• an experienced staff member working in a relevant professional area who may be new to teaching and/or supporting learning.

Cost

The UCAP total cost is £907, this will be waived for those contracted to facilitate learning at CCCU for 40 hours or more.

Exemptions from fees apply to staff teaching on or supporting CCCU validated awards particularly where undertaking the course is a contractual obligation.

If you are unsure whether you are eligible for exemption from fees, please speak to your line manager.

Local arrangements with partner providers are also in force.

Apply: Follow these four steps

1. Enquire via the ucap_pgcap@canterbury.ac.uk email address. We will then find a 15-minute slot for you to meet with the Course Director, to ensure you meet the requirements of the course and are aware of the details.

2. Complete the Step 1 form in the 'Downloads' section on the top right of the webpage. Ensure that you check the relevant timetable in the 'Downloads' section, with your line manager to make sure you are able to attend the majority of taught sessions.

3. When your Step 1 form has been approved, complete Step 2 of the application via the 'Apply' button at the bottom of the webpage, using your personal email address, e.g., Gmail or Yahoo, etc. (rather than CCCU staff or student email address, as they cause issues with the system). [Please use the same forename and surname for Step 1 and 2 of the application process.]

4. If your application is approved, the Admissions team will email you, to prompt you to start the registration process.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 5.30pm on Mon 10th Feb

University Certificate in Academic Practice Start Date March 2025

March 2025 application link