Centre for Teaching, Learning
& In-House Training

The University of Papua New Guinea is committed to quality teaching and learning and believes very strongly in multi-skilling its academic as well as non-academic staff through appropriate staff development in-house training. As part of its plans to build on its past successes, the Centre for Teaching, Learning & In-House Training was established aimed at enhancing academic staff teaching performance and enhancing student learning at the University as well as enhance non-academic staff performance through appropriate in-house training.

The Centre supports diverse academic programs in Law, Medicine and Health Sciences, Business Administration, Humanities and Social Sciences as well as the University’s Open College extensive distance education program, the Enrichment studies program and the Post-Graduate and Research program. The Centre provides support services through the in-house training courses to promote effective ad innovative teaching and learning in the classrooms.

For the academic staff, the following short courses or workshops are provided: Introduction to University Teaching, Tutoring Distance Education and Open Learning Courses, Distance Education Course Writer’s Workshop, Assessing Student Learning, Introduction to Postgraduate Supervision, Postgraduate Supervision (Data Analysis using Softwares – Excel and SPSS), Presenting ideas and information in large classes, Facilitating small group learning, Designing courses, Teaching practical and Laboratory classes, Introduction to Lecture Theatre Technology (AMX Multi-Media Technology), Developing and Evaluating Teaching, Basic and Advanced PowerPoint Presentations.

For the non-academic staff, the following short courses or workshops are provided: Introduction to Ms Word, Introduction to Ms Excel, Training of Trainers, Supervision and Management Skills, Customer Service Training, How to Successfully Manage Your Time, Occupational Health and Safety, and First Aid.

A Semester-based calendar of activities is prepared at the beginning of each semester offering this courses/workshops for staff members to register through their School Executive Deans or Executive Directors and Directors.

The Centre is also responsible for the development and administering of appraisal systems within the University. Students are encouraged to participate in the evaluation of lecturer teaching performances in courses that they take in either semester 1 and/or semester 2. A course evaluation system is currently under discussion at the school/centre level.

Through the Centre, the University has created the idea of academic staff developing teaching portfolios as a means to evaluate their performance in teaching. This teaching portfolio becomes part of the summative evaluation process when academic staff members apply for contract renewals and promotions.

The Centre in its mission to expand its programs, aim to introduce the Certificate in Communication of Science and Technology and the Graduate Diploma in Communication of Science and Technology in 2005. These programs are aimed to enhance the scientific communication skills of practicing scientists, journalists and tertiary lecturers. Its purpose is to provide the theoretical knowledge and skills to increase the quality of scientific communication in Papua New Guinea.

There are also plans underway for the introduction of the Graduate Certificate in Higher Education. This program is intended for academic staff members who are involved in teaching and curriculum development in a higher education context. The program will be designed to assist academic staff members’ pedagogical knowledge, skills and abilities to enhance student learning.

As a mission statement, the Centre for Teaching, Learning & In-House Training aims to promote academic excellence in its activities related to teaching and learning as well as promote the policy of multi-skilling through providing appropriate in-house training courses to adequately skilled the workforce (both academic and non-academic staff).