CAPITAL
The Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice in Teaching and Learning, CAPITAL, is led by the Educational Development team, with workshops from colleagues in CeDAS, the Library and Careers.
It is Royal Holloway policy that all academic staff appointed at the level of Lecturer and Senior Lecturer should complete CAPITAL within the period of their probation, unless they can demonstrate grounds for exemption. Certain other categories of staff including Teaching Fellows, Academic Fellows and Postdoctoral Research Fellows may also be required to complete CAPITAL as a condition of probation.
Appointees to Research Fellowships of less than two years’ duration, Graduate Teaching Assistants and holders of other academic or academic-related positions which carry teaching duties but no overall responsibility for a course should take the Programme in Skills of Teaching to Inspire Learning (inSTIL) instead.
CAPITAL is accredited by Advance HE. This accreditation indicates that the standards on CAPITAL are comparable with those on similar programmes across the British Higher Education sector, and qualifies participants who complete CAPITAL for Fellowship of Advance HE (FHEA). We are guided by the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF), and participants on the programme demonstrate how they are meeting the professional values and core knowledge required for Fellowship (Descriptor 2) through reflection on different aspects of module design and teaching practice.
Queries relating to CAPITAL should be directed to the Programme Leader Francesca Robinson, in the first instance.
Who does inSTIL?
- Postgraduate tutors (required if you are in a lead teaching role)
- Visiting Lecturers (non-established teachers)
- Staff who teach at Royal Holloway (e.g. technicians, post-doctoral researchers, and others)
You need to have 2 hours of teaching set up at Royal Holloway in order to join inSTIL.
The programme has been designed to be highly interactive and will give you the maximum opportunity to develop your skills as a university teacher, to share ideas with your peers, and to determine what approaches will work in your own teaching situations.
The aim of inSTIL is to help you develop:
- the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively support student learning in HE
- the confidence required for effective teaching
- a basis for your future career development
It carries 15 M-level credits and is accredited by the Higher Education Academy/Advance HE, so you will automatically qualify for Associate Fellowship of the Academy after successful completion. This is a direct benefit to those who wish to make careers in the university sector in the UK and abroad.
Introductory days take place in September/October. Emails with introductory day booking info are sent out to all PGR students and to Directors of Studies in August.
An inSTIL overview can be found here.
If you have any questions, please contact Educational Development
TALENT
It is also possible to gain recognition with Advance HE by completing a written document where you reflect on your teaching practice as part of the TALENT scheme. This would be instead of participating in CAPITAL or inSTIL.
The TALENT scheme is open to any RHUL employee who is established in their teaching/supporting learning role, either through continuous employment here, or through bringing prior Higher Education experience to such a role. It might also be more suitable if you have already followed a taught programme such as a PGCE and gained a teaching qualification.
The TALENT scheme is accredited with Advance HE. You can submit your reflections for recognition at one of three different categories of fellowship: Associate Fellow, Fellow, or Senior Fellow.
Each RHUL staff member involved in teaching/supporting learning will have their own specific roles and relevant experiences: please contact Lynne Francis to discuss the right route for you.