About the program
The FULT program is offered to UNSW teaching staff who wish to develop their practice by exploring a range of perspectives, ideas, theories, and practical approaches to learning and teaching in the higher education context. FULT is offered in blended learning mode.
FULT is accredited by Advance HE. Participants who successfully complete the program are eligible to apply for Associate Fellow, Higher Education Academy (AFHEA). Read more under 'Applying for Associate Fellowship, Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)'.
Please note: you must be teaching or have recent teaching experience while you are participating in FULT. See more information under FULT Program Requirements.
If you have no teaching experience and are currently completing a research degree, please register your interest in the Beginning to Teach Program.
Attention: UNSW Medical Conjoints
C-Med is a bespoke alternative to FULT to ensure all conjoints are familiar with the UNSW Medicine program. It is mandatory for all conjoints. Please open C-Med for more information and enrolment instructions.
Program learning outcomes
The FULT program is designed to help you to increase your understanding and develop skills and confidence in your learning and teaching practice, drawing from your own reflections, experience of your peers and educational literature. After completing this program you should be able to:
1. Identify, discuss and critically reflect on student learning in face-to-face, blended and online teaching contexts in higher education, drawing on pedagogical literature.
2. Recognise, interpret and critically analyse complex problems and educational design challenges related to learning and teaching to generate and implement effective solutions.
3. Analyse and evaluate learning and teaching practices using evidence from a range of sources to enhance practice.
4. Apply knowledge, skills and reflective practice to develop professional judgement, adaptability and responsibility as a scholarly practitioner in higher education.
The FULT Program Outline can be accessed here (link opens a PDF document).
Teaching strategies and approach to learning
The FULT program is underpinned by the beliefs that learning is most effective when learners are
-
Actively engaged: you will have an opportunity to engage in an active process of making sense of new ideas or experiences. This will involve action (trying out of new ideas) and reflection (based on feedback).
-
Draw on own practice and prior knowledge in authentic environments: you will have an opportunity to reflect on your own practice, work with authentic scenarios and own examples emerging from your practice, and the practice of your colleagues.
-
Build connections: you will have opportunities to build connections with peers and with teachers.
-
Understand the expectations: the various options and paths through the program will be made explicit to you. Program facilitators will be available to provide guidance.
-
Are challenged and supported: the program will model a climate of enquiry where you will feel challenged, while being supported to take sensible risks in your teaching.
-
Learner diversity is respected and catered for: the program will model inclusive learning environment where learners feel valued and respected.
The learning activities in the program include:
-
individual learning activities (reflecting, reading, critiquing program materials, completing individual tasks and assessments);
-
group learning activities, which will model a range of teaching strategies in both face-to-face and online contexts.
Applying for Associate Fellowship, Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)
The UNSW FULT Program is accredited by Advance HE, with participants who successfully complete the program eligible to apply for the award of Associate Fellow, Higher Education Academy (AFHEA).
Fellowships are a means of acknowledging commitment to professionalism in learning and teaching in higher education. They are based on the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF), which sets out the knowledge, skills and values demonstrated by those teaching and/or supporting learning in higher education. This is a globally recognised framework for benchmarking success within higher education teaching and learning support. HEA Fellowship is a new pathway that recognises UNSW staff commitment to learning and teaching.
The following requirements must be met in order to be awarded AFHEA:
- recent experience in teaching, or supporting educational design and development, either, while you are completing FULT or in the term preceding or following FULT
- successfully complete all four FULT assessment tasks
- submit a supporting statement (from a referee)
Exemptions (Canberra staff only)
For academics who have significant teaching experience and formal teaching qualifications, an exemption may be granted on the grounds of one or more of the following:
- successful completion of a tertiary education-focused award qualification (AQF 7 or above) at UNSW or another university
- successful completion of a higher education teaching preparation course equivalent to UNSW's Foundations of University Learning and Teaching (FULT) program
- demonstrated evidence of sustained high quality university teaching and evidence of proficiency
Evidence of proficiency in university teaching includes:
- teaching awards, citations and grants (UNSW, AAUT or equivalent)
- demonstrated contribution to the improvement of learning and teaching (e.g. invited presentations, published physical/digital teaching materials, textbooks, e-games)
- recognised leadership in teaching with evidence of influencing and supporting peers to innovate or change their educational practice and/or policy at course/program/school/faculty/UNSW/external level (e.g. Chair of Learning and Teaching Committee, leadership/invited role in academic development activities and workshops, peer mentoring, pivotal role implementing improvements to learning and teaching in relation to Assurance of Learning or other strategic initiatives, leadership role in collaborative course/program design
- a portfolio of evidence equivalent to that assembled to develop a teaching case for promotion (this will include MyExperience data but student satisfaction measures along are insufficient.) Refer to the UNSW Academic Promotions Toolkit for guidance
Please attach evidence of recognition (e.g. award, hard/soft copies or link to publications/teaching materials; presentations/invitations, peer reviews/testimonials/citations; evidence of impact on peers' teaching practice/policy and student learning; documentation of the teaching case for promotion
If you meet these criteria please fill in the Application for Exemption: Foundations of University Learning and Teaching form (PDF) and email the completed form to [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Experience).
Future Pathways
After you have completed FULT, you may wish to explore other professional development options such as the Course Design Institute (CDI), please see here.
Benefits and Testimonials
Frequently reported benefits by previous participants include:
The FULT program aims to help you to develop an understanding of, and skills and confidence in, your teaching practice.
- the opportunity to get feedback on your teaching from colleagues and workshop facilitators in a supportive environment,
- cross-disciplinary sharing of ideas and strategies with colleagues involved in learning and teaching,
- interaction with and support of learning partners and colleagues.
“The FULT program was well-developed and well-presented with lots of activities to learn through open discussions as well as from peers. I was able to appreciate how the structure of FULT is closely aligned with the 3P model of Biggs 1993 and I hope to emulate a similar structure in my courses...” – Krishna Talluru, UNSW Canberra, FULT Alumnus 2023
“I have great professional expertise and was an accidental lecturer. Now I am a passionate lecturer determined to be memorable as I learn more about teaching and learning.” - Julia Checchia, Casual Academic, UNSW Business School, FULT Alumnus 2022
“I am very new to teaching and the FULT program helped me learn and reflect on my personal teaching pedagogy. Great insight into all aspects of teaching and learning. It was amazing to connect with so many passionate teachers across schools and faculty.” - Radha Govind, Associate Lecturer, Medicine & Health, FULT Alumnus 2022
FULT Alumni Network Group
The aim of the FULT Alumni Network is to provide an opportunity for alumni to get together and explore the latest issues, innovations and future directions in higher education learning and teaching.
The network will meet 2 times a year and supports the leadership potential of alumni as champions of learning and teaching.
Anyone who is a current UNSW staff member that has completed the FULT program in the past, is invited to be a part of the network.
Find out more about the FULT Alumni Network and its activities.
FULT Alumni Good Practice Case Studies
Following the June 2020 meeting, the FULT Alumni Network was invited to submit a Good Practice Case Study for Educational Excellence. Several case studies were selected to be featured on the Teaching Gateway website.
Contact
If you are from UNSW Sydney and have an enquiry about the program, please contact us via email.
If you are from UNSW Canberra and have an enquiry about the program, please contact Dijana Townsend.