The University of Fort Hare (UFH) established the Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC) in 2004 as a proactive response to the evolving landscape of higher education.
Recognizing the critical need to foster educational excellence, the TLC was founded with a clear mission: to ensure both students and staff fully thrive within UFH’s dynamic academic environment. As a dedicated, stand-alone entity reporting directly to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the TLC plays a pivotal role in shaping all facets of teaching and learning across the university.
Sparking curiosity and deeper understanding. Empowering both educators and learners to thrive.Creating a more dynamic and rewarding academic journey for all.
Recognizing that well-supported faculty drive student success, the Teaching and Learning portfolio provides comprehensive professional development for academics at all career stages. This investment equips faculty to meet modern academic challenges, fostering a more engaged, effective, and innovative teaching community that directly enhances student learning experiences, outcomes, and engagement.
The TLC prioritizes students by creating a student-centered learning environment. We offer support and success initiatives to empower learners with essential skills and resources. By focusing on student needs and feedback, we aim to foster an inclusive and engaging educational experience that champions their academic success.
The portfolio drives technological integration in classrooms by equipping both staff and students with the necessary digital tools and skills for effective teaching and learning. In today's evolving digital landscape, we champion new approaches that blend traditional methods with modern technology to better engage students and foster authentic learning.
The Teaching and Learning portfolio leads curriculum development, renewal, and assessment, ensuring alignment across teaching, learning, and evaluation. In collaboration with the University's faculties, we design relevant curricula that address societal shifts, industry needs, and global trends. Our effective assessment techniques accurately measure student outcomes, driving continuous improvement and ultimately preparing students to excel in their future and navigate a rapidly evolving world.
Access all your university module resources, activities, and assessments on Blackboard, your convenient online learning platform. From lecture notes and recordings to readings and forums, Blackboard keeps you connected and engaged. Easily track your progress, complete assignments, and participate in discussions – all in one accessible location, anytime you need it.
Guiding learners to actively construct their own understanding and skills.
With a vision of a vibrant, equitable, and sustainable African university, the University of Fort Hare (UFH) is committed to teaching and research excellence for its students, scholars, and the wider community. Its mission is to deliver high-quality education of international standards. Understanding the current Higher Education context, UFH is taking a responsible approach to facilitator training and development. By innovatively and responsibly addressing the historical lack of quality and support in facilitator practices, UFH aims to proactively enhance its overall quality of teaching and learning.
Systematically designing and refining educational content and learning experiences.
Curriculum is fundamental to education, impacting all involved in teaching and learning. It focuses on students’ holistic development, encompassing knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values crucial for employability.
The Teaching and Learning Centre supports academic staff in the systematic development and understanding of:
This program uses peer collaboration to enhance students' academic literacy and writing skills.
The Language & Writing Advancement program, housed within the Teaching & Learning Centre’s Writing Centre, employs peer collaboration to improve student academic literacy. Focusing on academic writing, it integrates process writing principles to cultivate critical thinking, information management, and effective communication skills, supported by trained Student Assistants with subject expertise.
Brief Guides/ Resources/ Policies:
Systematically designing and refining educational content and learning experiences.
Globally, higher education increasingly emphasizes teaching quality, prompting institutions to enhance and reward pedagogical practices. Within this trend, the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) highlights the individual academic’s role in demonstrating teaching quality through a comprehensive Teaching Portfolio.
To measure its success in providing high-quality, international-standard education, the university requires evidence of teaching excellence. The most effective way to gather this data – quantitative, qualitative, and contextual – is through a portfolio. A Teaching and Learning Portfolio allows for the synthesis of relevant information into a meaningful account of teaching performance.
Brief Guides/ Resources/ Policies:
- Creating your own professional portfolio
- UFH guide on developing a teaching portfolio
Assessing the effectiveness and impact of courses, programs, or teaching practices.
Evaluations facilitate crucial two-way communication among stakeholders regarding course and program effectiveness. Utilizing various tools like oral feedback, written surveys, and document review, evaluations inform curriculum design, student support, and research.
Student feedback on their courses is also vital; therefore, a dedicated database of questions on course design, teaching strategies, and student support is available for academic staff.
The Teaching and Learning Centre supports staff in:
Brief Guides/Resources/Policies:
The First Year Experience platform supports student success through academic support, mentoring and access to essential services across the university.
University of Fort Hare Alice Campus
Private Bag X1314
Alice, 5700
South Africa
Tel: +27 40 602 2011
Email: info@ufh.ac.za
University of Fort Hare East London Campus
50 Church Street
East London, 5201
South Africa
Tel: +27 43 704 7000
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