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Courses
Courses
Choosing a course is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make! View our courses and see what our students and lecturers have to say about the courses you are interested in at the links below.
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University Life
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About University of Galway
About University of Galway
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Research & Innovation
University of Galway’s vibrant research community take on some of the most pressing challenges of our times.
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Business & Industry
Guiding Breakthrough Research at University of Galway
We explore and facilitate commercial opportunities for the research community at University of Galway, as well as facilitating industry partnership.
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Community Engagement
Community Engagement
At University of Galway, we believe that the best learning takes place when you apply what you learn in a real world context. That's why many of our courses include work placements or community projects.
Accessibility & LanguagePostgraduate Certificate
Course Overview
The Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education is a 30 ECTS one year, part-time programme designed to enhance the professional practice of those teaching in higher education. On completion participants can receive a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, or can progress on to do the Postgraduate Diploma in Academic Practice. This popular certificate programme has been offered since 2007, and it begins in September of each year. Participants must be currently engaged in teaching at undergraduate and/or postgraduate levels, preferably in a number of modes (eg large classes and small classes) and are required to undertake some feedback exercises on their teaching practice.
This course is not suitable for PhD students. PhD students are instead advised to take the GS506 module.
Course Outline
CEL260 An Introduction to Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (Semester 1)
This is the first module in the Postgraduate Certificate programme and covers a range of topics including large class teaching, student engagement, learning technologies, civic engagement and research-led teaching. The course is based on scheduled class sessions often with guest presenters. Assessment comprises maintaining an online 'learning journal' and a summative reflection on learning including identification of practical actions for developing teaching.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this module, participants should be able to:
- Identify some of the key theories of learning in the higher education context;
- Appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of a variety of teaching approaches which may be undertaken within particular contexts;
- Debate and engage with some of the contemporary issues in higher education that impact on teaching practice;
- Demonstrate a willingness to reflect on their own practice.
CEL261 Course Design, Assessment, and Evaluation (Semester 2)
This is the second module in the Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching & Learning in Higher Education. This semester focuses on describing, designing, assessing and evaluating courses and modules. Issues such as aligning learning outcomes with learning and teaching activities, and assessment will be central.
The assessment for this module will require participants to use the ‘constructive alignment’ process to critically evaluate and re-design a unit of teaching. This assessment activity can be used to design a new unit of teaching.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Through participating fully in this module we would expect successful students to be able to:
- Critically reflect on their own course designs and assessment approaches;
- Apply knowledge about various approaches to curriculum design to their own contexts;
- Recognise the impact of particular external factors on their own teaching contexts.
CEL262 Reflective Practice and Professional Development
The main goal of this module is the development of a Teaching Portfolio, which exemplifies each participant’s critical self-reflection on their teaching practice, their developing philosophy of education and awareness of professional development issues. This module will also serve to revisit, probe and integrate ideas from across the course.
In order to satisfy the requirements of the module and the overall award of the certificate, participants must: (1) undertake the Grouped Student Evaluation process; (2) use the Partnerships for Learning & Teaching process with a colleague to peer review/observe each other’s teaching; (3) collate other relevant examples of teaching and learning practice. The module is assessed via a comprehensive Teaching Portfolio.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
- List key developments and achievements in professional practice related to teaching and learning in higher education;
- Demonstrate positive impact of teaching through reference to student, peer, and examiner feedback;
- Evaluate both achievements and further professional development needs in light of the emerging philosophy of teaching and student/peer/examiner feedback.
Why Choose this Course?
Continuous Professional Development
The programme will contribute knowledge and skills to enhance your professional practice as a university teacher. It provides opportunities to demonstrate curriculum leadership through course and module design, and can facilitate career development through the production of a Teaching Portfolio. CELT courses contribute positively to career progression and promotion.
Mobility
This programme resembles many of the leading academic development programmes internationally. The award may be recognised by other institutions in Ireland and worldwide.
Who’s Suited to This Course
The Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education is particularly suited to those academics with a number of years teaching in higher education. The programme provides an opportunity to enhance existing practice through critical and scholarly reflection. However, it is also of value to early career university teachers seeking a more advanced introduction to teaching and learning in higher education.
Course Fees
Fees Information
Teaching staff of the University of Galway do not pay fees for this programme.
External candidates will normally be required to pay fees. For more information please contact celt@universityofgalway.ie
How to Apply
Online applications for Academic Year 24/25 now closed. Applications for Academic Year 25/26 will open April/May 2025. Please contact celt@universityofgalway.ie
Find Out More
Centre for Excellence in Learning & Teaching
Room AMB1012, First Floor, Arts Millennium Building
University of Galway
Tel. 091 49 2924
Email: celt@universityofgalway.ie
Applications and Selections
To be successful, participants will need to show engagement with materials and any class discussions together with the summative assignments. Participants must be currently engaged in teaching at undergraduate and/or postgraduate levels, preferably in a number of modes (eg large classes and small classes) and are required to undertake some feedback exercises on their teaching practice.
Online applications for Academic Year 24/25 now closed. Applications for Academic Year 25/26 will open April/May 2025. Please contact celt@universityofgalway.ie
Who Teaches this Course
Michelle Tooher
Mairead Greene
Requirements and Assessment
This programme is comprised of three modules
- CEL260 An Introduction to Teaching and Learning in Higher Education – Semester 1 (10 ECTS)
- CEL261 Course Design Assessment, and Evaluation – Semester 2 (10 ECTS)
- CEL262 Reflective Practice and Professional Development – All Year (10 ECTS)
The programme involves a combination of class-based workshops, seminars, and lectures; critical reflection; and independent study. The programme uses continuous assessment (see Course Outline for more detail).
Anastasia Griva | Assistant Professor, Business Information Systems
These courses have significantly enhanced my educational practices, enabling me to embrace diversity and ensure that all students, regardless of their unique needs, have equal opportunities in learning. Given our PGs’ international student population, these courses have played a crucial role in promoting inclusivity within my classroom.
Julie Spray | Lecturer in Children's Studies
I didn’t realise teaching and learning could be so fascinating until I started studying them in the CELT PGCert! What IS the purpose of higher education? How DO people learn? Why are some kinds of knowledge harder to apprehend, and what approaches help? What assumptions have we inherited about curricula, assessment, and student-teacher roles and responsibilities, and how might we challenge ourselves to try things differently? What are my values in and philosophies of teaching? I loved having access to the structures, concepts, resources, colleagues from other backgrounds and lecturers’ expertise to support me as I applied theory and evidence to grapple with problems and experiment in teaching practice. I reckon the combination of 1) experiencing being a student in class, while also 2) studying teaching and learning, and 3) practicing teaching, hits the trifecta for learning about learning. I think I will be pushing the edge of my learning about teaching for the rest of my career.
