The TLU have developed a CPD programme entitled ‘EAT-PD: Enabling Academic Transitions through Professional Development' aimed at new and early career academic staff, i.e., staff that have been teaching full-time for three years or less (or some equivalent). This programme enables staff relatively new to teaching to develop their competencies in the classroom. The focus of this programme is to expose staff to a range of research-based teaching strategies that can be used to enhance lectures and support learning.
Information on the EAT-PD Programme |
The following is a short recording introducing you to the programme and outlining what it entails: |
EAT-PD is a 15-week, semester-long, experiential programme (1 hour per week) using proven teaching strategies in a supportive, friendly and constructive environment. Learners will subsequently deploy these activities in their classrooms and gain useful feedback from other learners and peers through reflective practice.
Feedback from previous programme participants has been overwhelmingly positive, not just about course content and processes but also about the collegiality and community of learning that emerges among the cohorts. This community is more important than ever as staff starting out on their MTU teaching careers are doing so in different and changing circumstances.
If you would like to learn more about this exciting CPD opportunity for new and early career lecturers at MTU, please contact the programme coordinator:
- Dr Eileen O’Leary (eileenm.oleary@mtu.ie)
This programme was enabled by funding from the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning in Higher Education as part of the Strategic Alignment of Teaching and Learning Enhancement Funding in Higher Education Call 2019.
What support is available to engage with the programme?
Successful applicants will have their assigned teaching load reduced by 1 hour for 15 weeks (once approved by Head of Department / Function).
How does the programme benefit participants?
It will provide opportunities for participants to:
- Integrate proven, high quality teaching strategies into their regular teaching practice
- Develop their teaching practice using feedback from students, feedback from peers, self-reflection and through engagement with the literature.
- Develop a personal understanding of what is meant by “student-centred learning”
- Build their professional network by meeting and working with early career staff from across the university
- Enhance their professional and personal development by obtaining the EnTICE (Enhancing Teaching through Interactive Classes that Engage Students) Digital Badge, from the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
Has this programme been run previously?
This programme has been offered on 5 previous occasions – once in 2019/20, twice in 2020/21, once in 2021-22 and once again in semester 1, 2022/23. During this time, we recruited and successfully delivered this programme to over 80 early career academic staff from across a variety of disciplines in both faculties. So far, feedback has been extremely positive, despite the disruption caused by COVID-19, and indeed a number of participants have commented that the programme really benefitted them in the current crisis as it enabled them to utilise some of the strategies learned and observed to enhance their remote teaching.
More Information
If you would like to learn more about the EAT-PD programme or have an informal discussion with a member of the EAT-PD Team please contact us or email:
- Eileen O’Leary (eileenm.oleary@mtu.ie)
- Marese Bermingham (marese.bermingham@mtu.ie)
