Get Qualified: HEA PGCertTHE

PgCert in Teaching in Higher Education

Get qualified to teach and develop into a reflective practitioner with the PgCertTHE, accredited by the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
This course is designed for:

Staff on academic teaching contracts at Bangor University who have less than two years’ continuous teaching experience in Higher Education or who are not already Fellows of the HEA
Research assistants and post-graduates with significant responsibility for teaching or supporting learning
Staff with over two years of Higher Education teaching experience who require additional support
Professional Services staff with responsibility for providing teaching and learning support

Course Content

The PgCert THE consists of two level 7 modules, each worth 30 credits.

Stage 1 focuses on the practical aspects of Higher Education teaching to help you to be more efficient and effective, with completion leading to HEA Associate Fellow status (see below). Stage 1 includes regular development workshops which are mapped onto academic activities. This stage is assessed be a portfolio developed over the year that demonstrates innovative and reflective professional practice underpinned with theoretical concepts. The portfolio must evidence at least 100 hours of Higher Education teaching related activities or supported learning on modules in Higher Education that are subject to Bangor University’s Quality Assurance procedures, including 25 hours in contact with students. You will build and submit a detailed portfolio that describes the context of your teaching, changes to teaching that you implemented following engagement with learning theory, and an evaluation of the process. You need to engage with at least two Areas of Activity with the UK Professional Standards Framework during this stage.

Stage 2 focuses on pedagogical research to explore new innovations and further develop your teaching practice, with completion leading to HEA Fellow status (see below). Stage 2 requires a further 60 hours of teaching related activities and demonstration of engagement with all five Areas of Activity within the UK Professional Standards Framework. This stage will involve independent scholarship and the assessment will be an academic paper, 6,000-word action-based learning project or negotiated assessment.

HEA Fellowship Overview

Gaining a HEA Fellowship demonstrates your qualification to teach in Higher Education and your commitment to your professional development. This is a respected and nationally recognised teaching award, and Bangor University is accredited by Advance HE to award HEA Fellowships to PhD students and staff. There are four categories of HEA Fellowship to suit your level of experience, and the completion of the PGCert HE leads to either Associate Fellow or Fellow status. If you are a more experienced academic, you can reach higher levels through our HEA CPD Recognition Scheme.

Continuous Professional Development

To demonstrate engagement and continuing professional development, you are required to attend and reflect on at least two wider learning and teaching workshops during Stage 1, and four workshops during Stage 2. CELT run relevant CPD workshops, but you can also choose to attend other events at Bangor University, other institutions with a focus on learning and teaching, or those organised by Advance HE. Evaluation of each event must demonstrate how it has informed your practice.

Timescales

Stage 1 can take up to one year to complete. If you are a full-time member of academic staff with a teaching contract, you are required to complete both stages within three years. If the award is not a contractual requirement, you can exit after Stage 1 and return at a later time – within two years is normally an acceptable time frame.

Registration

Staff: please complete the online application for staff (click on the link under 'BU Staff') and when asked to upload supporting documents, upload a blank document as we do not require evidence of staff qualifications
Postgraduate students: please complete the Application Form for Postgraduates. Postgraduate students will be required to supply a letter from their Head of School confirming at least 100 hours of teaching related activity on quality assured modules for Stage 1 to be considered for the course.

Teaching Psychology in Higher Education

The Teaching Psychology in Higher Education (TPHE) course is an alternative to the PgCert THE for postgraduate students in the School of Psychology looking to build and evidence their teaching. This course has subject-specific guidance to assist students in their role as Graduate Instructors, and leads to accreditation as an Associate Fellow on successful completion. For further information about the TPHE, contact the Director of Teaching and Learning in the School of Psychology, Dr Thandi Gilder.