opportunities can contribute to job satisfaction and retention among faculty and staff. Here are some areas in which higher education institutions (HEIs) stand to gain the most by investing in upskilling. Technological proficiency There are already multi-generational workforces in corporates but there is more to come for HEI educators. As members of Generation Alpha (those born between 2010 and 2024) come into the classroom, their learning expectations will differ widely from what has come before. In the year 2010, the iPad was launched, Instagram was created and ‘app’ was named word of the year by the American Dialect Society. From their earliest years, therefore, Alphas have been ‘screenagers’ and catching students’ interest in the classroom will warrant far greater attention than it currently receives. There will also be much more emphasis on digital learning environments and personalised experiences. As a result, faculty members will need to be proficient in various educational technologies. HEIs must pre-empt the coming changes by helping faculty members to become adept at using an agile learning management system (LMS), online assessment tools and digital communication platforms. Faculty members must also be encouraged to experiment with technology integration to enhance student Traditional teaching methods alone will not be enough to engage the current and the next generation of learners. If you invest in faculty members’ continuing professional development, you can ensure they stay up to date on innovative pedagogical strategies, such as those related to active and fun-oriented learning, flipped classrooms and competency-based education. In addition, as classrooms become increasingly diverse, faculty and staff will need to overcome stereotypes and be open to managing and creating inclusive learning environments that respect and accommodate different backgrounds and learning styles. Training in cultural competency and equitable teaching practices is, therefore, essential. Education as a service Generation Alpha students and those who follow will increasingly look at higher education as a means to an engagement and learning outcomes. Innovative pedagogies
HOW DO LEADING UNIVERSITIES PROMOTE FACULTY DEVELOPMENT?
• In addition to the University of Cambridge Centre for Teaching and Learning’s focus on active learning and assessment strategies, peer mentoring is encouraged, with experienced faculty guiding newer educators. • ETH Zurich offers faculty training sessions focused on teaching methodologies and digital tools, with educators also encouraged to incorporate research findings into their teaching practices. • The University of Toronto ’s Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation offers programmes aimed at enhancing teaching
Some of the world’s leading universities are already adopting multifaceted approaches to help their faculty develop, as the following examples showcase. • Harvard University offers extensive professional development opportunities through its Bok Centre for Teaching and Learning where faculty can engage in workshops and peer- observation programmes focused on enhancing teaching effectiveness. • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) ’s Teaching + Learning Lab provides faculty with research-based insights into teaching practices, with online courses on delivering content in digital formats also available.
quality, with an emphasis on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) training and creating supportive learning environments.
16 Business Impact • ISSUE 4 • 2024
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