The University Teaching and Learning (UTL) Program is a mandatory initiative for all new Assistant Professors and Lecturers with teaching duties at the University. It is designed to equip early-career faculty with essential skills in university teaching and learning, forming part of the Academy of Education Excellence's (AEE) micro-credentials.
The program consists of six online courses covering essential areas such as learning theories, course design, assessment and feedback strategies, student engagement, and effective facilitation of group work. All new faculty members will be automatically granted access to these courses. Upon completing each course, participants will earn a course-specific badge. Once all six badges are collected, participants will be awarded the Proficiency Badge, which fulfills the University’s mandatory requirement for new faculty members.
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New faculty members appointed as Assistant Professor, Research Assistant Professor, or Lecturer are required to complete the UTL Program within their first year at HKUST. However, an exemption may be granted under specific conditions.
1. Eligibility for Exemption for UTL001 - 005
Faculty may apply for exemption for taking UTL 001 - 005 from the UTL Program if they meet either of the following criteria. However, ASD002 Criterion Referenced Assessment: A Practical Guide remains mandatory for all faculty.
A minimum of two years of teaching experience in higher education institution where:
- the experience must be consecutive or cumulative within the last five years.
- teaching responsibilities should include serving as primary course instructor, not solely in a supporting or tutorial role.
AND
Experience in teaching at least four disciplinary-related credit-bearing courses that are formally recognized as part of a university’s academic program, where:
- the applicant must have held primary responsibility for the course design and delivery
- the teaching load of each course is at least 3 contact hours per week.
- non-credit-bearing courses such as orientation, training workshops, or co-curricular activities are not counted.
Have successfully completed a comparable teaching and learning program similar in scope and objectives to the UTL Program. To be considered equivalent, the prior program must be offered by:
- a higher education institution as part of a faculty development scheme, or
- national or regional teaching and learning academies, or
- professional association and societies
AND
Include a minimum of 15 hours of structured learning on university teaching and learning covering topics on course design and constructive alignment, assessment and feedback, and student engagement and active learning.
2. Application Process
Eligible faculty members can apply for exemption by submitting the following:
- Completed the online application form.
- Supporting documentation, which may include:
- Curriculum Vitae (highlighting teaching experience)
- List of credit-bearing courses taught, including course codes, titles, and academic years/terms
- Certificate or transcript from a previously completed teaching and learning program
- Description or syllabus of the previous program (to demonstrate equivalency)
3. Review and Notification
- The application will be reviewed by the Center for Education Innovation (CEI).
- Applicants will be notified of the outcome via email.
- If additional information is required, the CEI may contact the applicant for clarification or further documentation.
For inquiries or assistance with the application, please contact cei@ust.hk.