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The University of Southampton
Centre for Higher Education Practice

Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice

About the programme

The Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) is a part-time, work-based, aspirational programme for academic staff at the University of Southampton. The programme is designed to develop knowledge and skills in learning and teaching, in line with national standards recognised in the UK Professional Standards Framework (Advance HE, UKPSF, 2011). The main concern of the programme is to inspire academics to develop educational competences in order to provide a high-quality learning experience to Southampton students.

The programme is accredited by Advance HE. This implies that you will become Fellow of the HEA upon successful completion of Module 1 and 2. Advance HE accreditation is widely recognised in the HE sector in the UK. Achieving Advance HE Fellowship is gradually becoming a standard requirement for academics operating internationally as well as nationally.

Further information as well as dates for the next programme can be found in our CHEP SharePoint site. Please note this is an internal site and requires your University user name and password.

FAQs

Who is the programme for?

New academic staff serving a probationary period (except clinical and research appointments) typically with less than 3 years experience in teaching are required to undertake modules 1 and 2 of PGCAP. Staff with more than 3 years teaching experience may be eligible for exemption.  Other staff who teach students at the University of Southampton may take the programme if there are places available and if they are supported in doing so by their faculty/academic unit.

Requirements and exemptions

Staff who have three or more years teaching experience may be eligible for exemption from PGCAP. Participants may seek exemption from PGCAP by achieving recognition as an HEA Fellow via the UoS PREP Framework, or by direct application to the HEA. Any staff considering applying for exemption should look at the PREP Framework web pages and book onto a briefing session through Staffbook.

Staff who already have some qualifications in learning and teaching may be able to use these as RPL towards PGCAP. Any staff considering applying for RPL for PGCAP should attend a RPL briefing session.  Please see Staffbook for RPL briefing session dates and to book your place.

University guidelines on the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Can I claim exemption from parts of the Programme based on previous experience or qualification?

Applicants to the PGCAP programme may claim either full or partial exemption from elements of the programme if they already possess appropriate experience. For example, a member of staff who has completed a similar course leading to associate Fellow HEA may be except from module 1.

How will my progress be assessed?

As well as attending the PGCAP workshops, you will be required to complete a number of assignments. You must pass all assignments in order to successfully complete each module.

Further information is available on the assessment page with full details being provided to participants in the Module handbooks.

What support will I receive?

As well as support from your faculty and the PGCAP tutors, you will also work closely with a PGCAP mentor within your discipline who will help you to situate the  educational theory and experience within your local context.

 

Dates and further information

More information as well as dates can be found in the CHEP SharePoint site. Please note this is an internal site and requires your University user name and password.

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