PG Cert in Academic Practice
16 Months Part-time | September Start
Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
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Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
In a climate where student centred and inclusive teaching, learning and assessment strategies are key to student success; this programme will use current pedagogic research to underpin innovative personal and professional development of the academic professional to support the reflection on current practice but also to inform a career-long interest in higher education pedagogy.
This programme incorporates a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) and is accredited by the Higher Education Academy (now Advance HEA) to award Associate Fellow of the HEA (AFHEA) then Fellowship of the HEA (FHEA).
This postgraduate certificate in higher education can also be undertaken as an Academic Professional Apprenticeship (APA) if eligible.
This programme is also for you if you want to further develop knowledge, understanding and confidence in academic practice. You will learn sector relevant, transferable skills that will equip you for your role as a research active and informed academic for the continuation of your career in the higher education sector.
You will not be able to access the Apprenticeship Route to fund your route but by self funding you will gain Associate Fellowship of the HEA and on successful completion of the final module, Fellowship of the HEA and a PGCAP.
Participation in the programme will develop students' ability to critically analyse personal academic practice in relation to current policy, practices and higher education pedagogic research.
You will be given the opportunity, both through formative and summative assessment, to communicate with a range of stakeholders allowing for the development of partnerships, accessing networks, taking part in peer support and developing the skills for ongoing reflective practice that is crucial to academic professional practice.
This course is also offered as a Degree Apprenticeship. Discover more.
Level of Study
Postgraduate
Mode of Study
16 months Part Time
Department
Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing
Location
City Campus, Northumbria University
City
Newcastle
Start
September 2024
Fees
Fee Information
Modules
Module Information
There will be a strong focus on understanding the multiplicity of learners’ needs to ensure the design and delivery of inclusive experiences to a wide and diverse demographic of students as well as understanding the processes to access the wider support available, thus aiming for an outstanding student experience. All learning opportunities are mapped to the UKPSF (UK Professional Standards Framework).
Talent from across the institution and sector offer guest seminars to introduce practice, research, policy and theory to enrich the community of practice.
Each module takes place over a semester and a semester is 12 teaching weeks in length. Taught session take place weekly on a Thursday 10.00-12.00 throughout a 12-week semester at Northumbria University’s City Campus.
You will have access to an online learning platform called Blackboard where module leaders will build your learning and assessment materials for your module. You will use the online Collaborate platform for some online sessions, particularly where this kind of learning is being showcased.
All assessments are set (Panopto lecture captured), submitted and returned online, Portfolios are created and shared via ‘cloud’ storage and some progress meetings are conducted virtually. Access to the extensive library and learning resources, materials, expertise and spaces are fully available to all students and apprentices.
You will also be equipped with the ability to challenge your personal and professional development, applying planning tools and career advice through the UseMYAbility website.
You will develop/enhance your skills of intellectual autonomy, collaborative working. You will work as an autonomous learner as well as participate in a professional community of learning and practice. You will be encouraged to read around key concepts and ideas which are the focus of the modules.
Further understanding will be through action/practitioner research activities, critical discussion with university peers, work colleagues and tutors. The principles of critical enquiry run through the programme, so you will be encouraged to critically examine, compare and contrast different world-views and their impact on issues pertinent to your sector.
This course is accredited by the Higher Education Academy (now Advance HE) to award Associate Fellow of the HEA (AFHEA) then Fellowship of the HEA (FHEA).
Applicants should normally have:
A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in a relevant subject. Other subject qualifications, equivalent professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be considered on an individual basis.
Applicants must demonstrate that they are currently teaching or supporting learning in Higher Education level provision for at least 50 hours per academic year.
International qualifications:
If you have studied a non UK qualification, you can see how your qualifications compare to the standard entry criteria, by selecting the country that you received the qualification in, from our country pages. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry
English language requirements:
International applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications
Full UK Fee: £3,083
Full EU Fee: £6,083
Full International Fee: £6,083
Scholarships and Discounts
ADDITIONAL COSTS
There are no Additional Costs
* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
Please use the Apply Now button at the top of this page to submit your application.
Certain applications may need to be submitted via an external application system, such as UCAS, Lawcabs or DfE Apply.
The Apply Now button will redirect you to the relevant website if this is the case.
You can find further application advice, such as what to include in your application and what happens after you apply, on our Admissions Hub Admissions | Northumbria University
Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.
TE7085 -
Introduction to Learning, Teaching and the Student Experience (Core,20 Credits)
The module is designed to meet the needs of higher education professionals in their early career and, as such, it will equip you to become effective, active, reflective and independent learners throughout the rest of your career. It will enable you to recognise, apply and critically analyse appropriate approaches to creating excellence in the student learning journey through enhancing the student experience, innovative teaching and meaningful assessment in the context of higher education.
It will facilitate meeting Higher Education Academy’s UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) requirements leading to Higher Education Academy (HEA) Associate Fellowship (Descriptor I) and contribute to the achievement of Descriptor 2 requirements for Fellowship.
You will be supported to increase your capabilities in learning, teaching and the support of learning by offering a combination of activities, which draw upon reflections on your own practical experiences. This will enable you to develop pedagogical practice supported by the established field of learning and teaching scholarship.
TE7086 -
Developing Academic Scholarship for Learning and Teaching (Core,20 Credits)
Undertaking this module will support you to extend your academic practice and enrich your OneDrive Professional Development Portfolio. This will assist you to demonstrate your skills, knowledge and the key competencies involved in working towards meeting the UKPSF requirements for Higher Education Academy Fellowship Descriptor 2 (D2) whilst evaluating your own practice.
You will have the opportunity to build on your learning that occurred in Module 1 ‘Introduction to the Student Experience, Learning & Teaching’, contextualising this within your own discipline and your own practice as an academic professional. The content of this module is focussed around the evaluation and enhancement of your own teaching and learning activities, including engagement with the Programme Framework for Northumbria Awards (PFNA) process. You will be introduced to a range of methods for the evaluation of practice and consider their implications for assuring quality and enhancement within your own teaching practice. You will develop a critical understanding of pedagogical research scholarship which informs the evaluation of teaching, learning and assessment and how this contributes to high quality student learning and enhancement.
In this module, you will be supported to develop an enquiry based enhancement Practitioner Enquiry Based Research Project which will be assessed via a presentation of 25 minutes to your peers and assessors (Programme Team) to confidently support current and future scholarship activities both in your specific discipline and in a wider higher education context. This Practitioner Enquiry Based Research Project will also provide evidence / case study to refer to in Module 3 Reflective Essay.
TE7087 -
Enhancing Academic Practice through Pedagogic Research (Core,20 Credits)
You will explore research in the context of a range of different paradigms and methods of inquiry to develop your understanding of practitioner or pedagogic research in a rigorous and ethical manner. In order to achieve this, you will be provided with opportunities
to engage with a range of different approaches to research through the media of discussions, seminars, practical research activities and
more independent analysis of contemporary research outputs which are pertinent to your area of professional practice. In reflecting on the success of your own enquiry based research project for module 2, you will have the chance to explore improvement techniques and quality assurance procedures in the wider context of pedagogical research in Higher Education. You will also reflect on your position as an academic in the university supporting the Research Excellence Framework (REF) and Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF) and. This will be through engagement with an existing research community of experienced colleagues who will facilitate sessions covering research impact, grant applications, getting published and disseminating research, ethical protocols and other strategic factors. Also, the role of supervisor will be explored and developed.
Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.
TE7085 -
Introduction to Learning, Teaching and the Student Experience (Core,20 Credits)
The module is designed to meet the needs of higher education professionals in their early career and, as such, it will equip you to become effective, active, reflective and independent learners throughout the rest of your career. It will enable you to recognise, apply and critically analyse appropriate approaches to creating excellence in the student learning journey through enhancing the student experience, innovative teaching and meaningful assessment in the context of higher education.
It will facilitate meeting Higher Education Academy’s UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) requirements leading to Higher Education Academy (HEA) Associate Fellowship (Descriptor I) and contribute to the achievement of Descriptor 2 requirements for Fellowship.
You will be supported to increase your capabilities in learning, teaching and the support of learning by offering a combination of activities, which draw upon reflections on your own practical experiences. This will enable you to develop pedagogical practice supported by the established field of learning and teaching scholarship.
TE7086 -
Developing Academic Scholarship for Learning and Teaching (Core,20 Credits)
Undertaking this module will support you to extend your academic practice and enrich your OneDrive Professional Development Portfolio. This will assist you to demonstrate your skills, knowledge and the key competencies involved in working towards meeting the UKPSF requirements for Higher Education Academy Fellowship Descriptor 2 (D2) whilst evaluating your own practice.
You will have the opportunity to build on your learning that occurred in Module 1 ‘Introduction to the Student Experience, Learning & Teaching’, contextualising this within your own discipline and your own practice as an academic professional. The content of this module is focussed around the evaluation and enhancement of your own teaching and learning activities, including engagement with the Programme Framework for Northumbria Awards (PFNA) process. You will be introduced to a range of methods for the evaluation of practice and consider their implications for assuring quality and enhancement within your own teaching practice. You will develop a critical understanding of pedagogical research scholarship which informs the evaluation of teaching, learning and assessment and how this contributes to high quality student learning and enhancement.
In this module, you will be supported to develop an enquiry based enhancement Practitioner Enquiry Based Research Project which will be assessed via a presentation of 25 minutes to your peers and assessors (Programme Team) to confidently support current and future scholarship activities both in your specific discipline and in a wider higher education context. This Practitioner Enquiry Based Research Project will also provide evidence / case study to refer to in Module 3 Reflective Essay.
TE7087 -
Enhancing Academic Practice through Pedagogic Research (Core,20 Credits)
You will explore research in the context of a range of different paradigms and methods of inquiry to develop your understanding of practitioner or pedagogic research in a rigorous and ethical manner. In order to achieve this, you will be provided with opportunities
to engage with a range of different approaches to research through the media of discussions, seminars, practical research activities and
more independent analysis of contemporary research outputs which are pertinent to your area of professional practice. In reflecting on the success of your own enquiry based research project for module 2, you will have the chance to explore improvement techniques and quality assurance procedures in the wider context of pedagogical research in Higher Education. You will also reflect on your position as an academic in the university supporting the Research Excellence Framework (REF) and Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF) and. This will be through engagement with an existing research community of experienced colleagues who will facilitate sessions covering research impact, grant applications, getting published and disseminating research, ethical protocols and other strategic factors. Also, the role of supervisor will be explored and developed.
Our Applicant Services team will be happy to help. They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901 or by using our Contact Form.
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* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
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