The Blended Learning and Academic Development Team provides essential support to programmes, departments, and faculties in designing and aligning their curricula to enhance the student experience and ensure the successful implementation of the University's graduate attributes: Globally Aware; Biculturally Competent and Confident; Engaged with the Community; and Employable, Innovative and Enterprising.

The team also assists departments and programmes in examining their curricula, alignment, and coherence, as well as teaching and assessment techniques, offering suggestions to improve the student experience. If institutional data is needed or other data needs to be gathered for such reviews, this can be arranged with the Ako Marake | Evaluation and Student Insights Team.

The team offers a range of services to assist in this process, including:

• Consultation and Facilitation: We work closely with staff to restructure and design strategic core courses, implement the graduate profile in programmes of study, and facilitate discussions around new programmes.

• Curriculum Evaluation: We evaluate curriculum consistency, coherence, and alignment in programmes of study, ensuring a cohesive learning experience for students.

• Assessment Design: We help develop learning outcomes, align assessment, teaching and learning activities, design and develop courses, modules, and learning activities.

We are able to provide expert guidance on the design and pedagogical use of the UC's Learning Management System (AKO | LEARN) and other digital technologies, ensuring staff are well-equipped to leverage technology for teaching and learning.

We support professional growth and development through a range of academic programs, workshops, and personalised guidance designed to enhance instructional practices and optimise student learning experiences, these include:

• Taipapaki: We offer flexible, blended, learner-centred professional development for teaching that provides immediate practical benefit and enhancement of blended teaching and learning within your chosen course.

• Teaching Consultations: We support individual lecturers and teaching teams in their teaching design and delivery. Consultations cover topics such as formulating learning outcomes, aligning assessments, exploring assessment methods, implementing graduate profile aspects, improving student engagement, designing effective activities, and planning for professional development in teaching.

• Teaching Observations: We provide independent and constructive feedback on your teaching through classroom observations. Staff often opt for multiple observations to gain a holistic picture of their teaching and evaluate any changes they wish to make.

• Academic Workshops & Seminars: We provide workshops on popular teaching topics and we are able to tailor-make workshops for individual departments, schools, or programmes.

• Teaching Portfolio Development: We assist with developing teaching portfolios for teaching awards or the various degrees of fellowship recognition of the AdvanceHE.

• Teaching Inductions: We contact new teaching academics soon after their appointment to schedule induction sessions to familiarise them with the resources and support available for face-to-face and online teaching at UC.

• Tutor & Demonstrator Training: We provide workshops for postgraduate tutors and demonstrators at the beginning of each semester.

• PG Certificate in Tertiary Teaching: We teach into this qualification which is offered through the Faculty of Education.

All consultations and observations are treated as confidential, and no information or reports will be shared without your permission.