CPD unit development
Continuous Professional Development Unit Founded at the University of Georgia
- Main university governing board (Academic Council) is informed about the project and the purpose of CPD unit which supports the idea;
- CPD unit was established as a part of a Quality Assurance office as the latter is responsible for teacher’s professional development;
- Existing staff will be trained gradually. Schedule has already been agreed.
- In addition, regulating documents have been created and accepted by the relevant body according to which professors will go through the training in learner-centred philosophy;
The regulations go as follows:
The regulation of the Continuous Professional Development Center
Article 1.
- 1.1. Continuous Professional Development Center (hereinafter "Center") coordinates continuing professional education of professors, lecturers and doctoral students in the University of Georgia (hereinafter "University"), including training in student-centered teaching methods;
- 1.2. The Center is a subsidiary structural unit of the university;
- 1.3. The Center follows the Law of Georgia on Higher Education, Labor Code, University Statutes when implementing its activities;
- 1.4. The Center is responsible for fulfilling its tasks and functions.
Structure and Management of the Center
Article 2.
- 2.1. Center is a structural unit of the University of Georgia, which represents one of the units within the quality assurance center;
- 2.2. The Center is headed by the Vice-Rector in the academic and scientific field;
- 2.3. The Center includes the following structural units and positions: the head of the Center and specialists of the Center.
The goals and objectives of the Center
Article 3.
- 3.1. The goals and objectives of the Center are:
- A) Organization of trainings in learning - teaching methods at the university;
- B) Raising awareness about student-centered teaching methods in the university and outside of the university;
- C) Training of university Doctoral students in student-centered teaching methods;
- D) Development of continuous professional education at the university;
- E) Establishment of the latest goals in student-centered teaching methods.
Functions of the Continuous Professional Development Center
Article 4.
- 4.1. The Center will conduct training of university professors and invited lecturers in student-centered teaching methods;
- 4.2. Training of the university doctoral students in student-centered teaching methods;
- 4.3. The center will provide trainings to all interested parties outside of the university who wants to get knowledge and acquire important skills in student-centered teaching methods;
- 4.4. The Center will plan and implement all necessary measures for conducting trainings and above mentioned activities;
- 4.5. Will provide courses with the relevant materials;
- 4.6. Will encourage introduction of the innovations in student-centered teaching methods at the university and will share with all interested individuals;
- 4.8. Will inform the university and society about student-centered teaching methods.
Authorities and responsibilities of the Center
Article 5.
- 5.1. The functions and objectives of the Center are implemented within the competences of the Center, which are established by this Regulation.
- 5.2. The Center is obliged to follow University regulations and Georgian legislation.
Transitional Regulation
Article 6.
- 6.1. The amendments to this regulation, change of the structure of the Center or the decision on the amendment of the functions and objectives are made by the University Academic Council.
- 6.2. Issues related to the activities of the Center, except of this provision, are regulated by the internal regulations of the University.
A room was assigned to the CPD unit which is fully equipped with the help of the project financing;
Training of trainers
- At least one participant from each school were trained from each school of the university (except for law) by the project partners . They will serve as a trainer for their own school professors:
- Business
- Humanities
- Social Sciences
- IT
- Health.
- We opted for training at least one representative from each school as a trainer in order to be able to consider examples and specifics of the fields;
- Apart from learner-centred approach, teachers are also offered other professional development courses through CPD unit (For example, IT school has courses in Cisco, Oracle, Microsoft Academy)
Informational Video
An informational video about the CPD unit was created during the training visit at the University of Georgia
Download the video from wetransfer.com
Training
Trainings are planned in January and February of 2019; Training materials will be made available for every trainee. All of the schools and the library will have a copy of the manual which has already been translated to Georgian. In-service university teachers will be trained by the trainers who attended the training for trainers held by the project partners and are the part of the CPD.