UCC Office of the Vice President for Learning and Teaching

In Epsiode 16 of OVPLT Talks, Paul McSweeney meets Mags Arnold, Project Lead for University College Cork on the IUA Micro-Creds Project. Micro-Creds are small units of learning which can be between 1 and 30 credits on the National Framework of Qualifications. There are seven partner universities involved in the national project, aiming to provide flexible opportunities to learners. #MicroCredsIE #lifelonglearning #learning #skills #FutureofWork https://lnkd.in/eRHp4YTy

OVPLT have just released the latest episode of OVPLT Talks. VP for Learning and Teaching at UCC, Professor Paul McSweeney interviews colleagues from across the university, who are involved in various aspects of learning and teaching. In this episode, Paul chats with Dr Olive McCarthy. Olive is a Senior Lecturer in Food Business and Development and also Chair of the Academic Council Learning and Teaching Committee. The committee operates as a forum for learning and teaching and also brings forward policy and strategy in the area. https://lnkd.in/eZbFZ9Np Previous episodes of the series can be accessed on our YouTube channel. https://lnkd.in/eqtc_ZAi

I had a great time at UNESCO Digital Learning Week 2024 last week learning more about perspectives on AI in education from around the world that touched on policy, pedagogy, regulation, ethics, sustainability and infrastructure and access. It was lovely to catch up with friends and colleagues as well as meet new ones. I was happy to share the work I did on the UCC Office of the Vice President for Learning and Teaching (AI)2ed project and our resulting Toolkit for the Ethical Use of GenAI in Learning and Teaching (https://lnkd.in/eEuN5ytv). During the week, UNESCO's AI Competency Framework for Students (https://lnkd.in/eEz6uPGZ) and AI Competency Framework for Teachers (https://lnkd.in/eDcRAYG3) were launched. While aimed at K-12, these can also be adapted for HE and provide a useful framework for the skills we need to be developing to become "AI Citizens" that are critical, responsible, co-creators, and leaders

The Office of the VP for Learning and Teaching has just launched it's call for the Annual President's Awards for Excellence in Teaching 2024. University College Cork is committed to excellence in education and the Teaching Excellence Awards scheme at UCC is the longest-established scheme of its kind in Ireland. These awards recognise and celebrate staff who have made an outstanding contribution in the pursuit of teaching excellence, and who demonstrate innovative and creative forms of teaching, learning and assessment that enhances student learning and student outcomes. Teaching can include course design and implementation and/or research and enquiry into teaching, learning and assessment.  Excellence in teaching can be demonstrated in many ways, and there are very many examples of excellent teaching in University College Cork. A variety of criteria are used to assess excellence in teaching including ability to engage students and improve student learning, the use of innovative pedagogies and technologies, research into teaching and assessment approaches and dissemination of good practice in teaching.   The award scheme is open to all UCC staff who teach or support teaching including academic staff, support staff, administrative staff, research staff, technical staff, postgraduate tutors and demonstrators. Staff may be nominated for an award through self-nomination or nomination by students, colleagues/peers or alumni. Full details for nominating are available on the OVPLT website. https://lnkd.in/epHbcF4v Photo shows award winners in 2023 with President John O'Halloran Photo by John Allen Photography

Adult Continuing Education (ACE) at UCC are taking applications for the Digital Badge in RPL, commencing 2nd October 2024.   Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process by which prior learning is formally valued. It is a means by which prior learning is identified, assessed, and recognised by an educational institution as part of its programmes, courses, and/or modules on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). This makes it possible for an individual to build on learning achieved and to be rewarded for it.  The RPL Digital Badge helps staff in the tertiary sector learn about RPL and how it applies to their own work, both at their institution and within the broader education sector. The 8-week course is available, free of charge, to all staff currently working in tertiary education in the Republic of Ireland.  This is the fourth and final iteration of the badge to be delivered and is facilitated by Staunton Ciara Dr Ciara Staunton of ACE who, along with Dr Lyndsey El Amoud, are the joint UCC Leads on the National HCI Pillar 3 Project on RPL. This is a wonderful opportunity for higher education staff to enhance their knowledge and skill in RPL. Full details of the badge and registration available here: Online Course: Recognition of Prior Learning (October 2024) – Open Courses

On August 21st, the UCC Skills Centre launched The Kit and re-launched the Academic Integrity Fundamentals short course in the Dora Allman room. Professor Paul McSweeney and @Nóirín Deady (First Year Experience Coordinator) opened the event, followed by Kathy Bradley (founder and former Head of the Skills Centre) who introduced The Kit, speaking to the idea that sparked the development of this new resource – making the transition into university easier for incoming students by teaching them “how to be students”. Dr Éadaoin Regan (Skills Centre Coordinator) then walked everyone through the 5 modules of The Kit, located in the Canvas Success Zone, which introduces students to UCC, from how to get here, to where to find coffee on campus, budgeting, resources and academic skills. The Kit is available to all students now. Following the launch of The Kit, Dr Loretta Goff (Academic Integrity Education Officer) re-launched the Academic Integrity Fundamentals short course, which was first made available in October 2023. Since then 260 students have successfully completed the course with more on track to complete it in the upcoming year. This course is available to all students at any time in the Canvas Success Zone and takes about 2-3 hours to complete. It is beneficial for all students as it introduces them to academic integrity, skills that support it, responsible use of generative AI, various forms of academic misconduct (and particular risks of contract cheating and file-sharing) as well as understanding how Turnitin works and where to go in UCC for additional support. Students are issued with a certificate upon completing the course which can be used as proof of completion should they be required to take it. #academicintegrity #allmyownwork #studentlife #newstudents #FirstYear

We are delighted to announce the release of the latest episode of OVPLT Talks, a series of interviews on topics related to learning and teaching in UCC. In this episode, Dr Anna Santucci, Senior Lecturer in Centre for the Integration of Research,Teaching and Learning discusses her work on the co-creation of inclusion and equity in teaching and learning. The project involves students working as partners with teachers to leverage the strengths that diversity brings to higher education. #inclusion #diversity #teachingandlearning #highereducation https://lnkd.in/exeqf2r5

Last chance to register for CIRTL's postgraduate programmes - deadline for applications for the PG Cert, Diploma and Masters in Teaching and Learning is 31st July. For further information https://lnkd.in/eBqgVRVz #lifelonglearning #professionaldevelopment #teachingandlearning

The closing date for the Centre for the Integration of Research,Teaching and Learning programmes is 31st July. The centre currently offers three postgraduate opportunities for third level teachers. The Postgrad Cert aims to provide staff in higher and further education with the opportunity to develop and professionalise their teaching practice to enhance learning, while gaining an internationally recognised postgraduate qualification in Teaching and Learning. https://lnkd.in/etSDSRv The postgrad Diploma aims to provide the staff of universities and other third-level institutions with the opportunity to develop a research approach to their teaching and student learning and to provide them with the pedagogical tools that will enable them to document and harness student learning for curriculum design. https://lnkd.in/drtHdumf The MA in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (for third-level education teachers) is designed to encourage you to research your teaching and your students’ learning in more depth.  https://lnkd.in/dNcQxaa3 Don't miss out on these great opportunities! #learningandteaching #professionaldevelopment #lifelonglearning

The latest episode of OVPLT Talks has just been released and features Dr Maria Kirrane, Head of Sustainability in UCC. In this episode, Dr Kirrane talks about how the Office of Sustainability supports teaching and learning in UCC.  First and foremost, Maria is a Mayo woman. A former student of Ecology, Maria undertook an intriguing PhD here at UCC and became Head of Sustainability in 2023. Watch the video on our YouTube channel here. https://lnkd.in/dpHYddJq OVPLT Talks was launched just over a year ago and this is episode 13, previous interviews can be viewed on our website. https://lnkd.in/d4Cvjesw