International collaboration in a postgraduate certificate in teaching and learning

This paper describes and critiques collaboration between Napier University, Edinburgh and Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne in the development of a dual-badged Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education for offer at the two universities and at other locations. Napier University developed and accredited the Postgraduate Certificate program, which was designed as a component of academic staff development, and has offered it across Scotland for a number of years. The course is accredited and is recognized in the UK by the Staff and Educational Development Association, the Institute for Learning and Teaching and the National Board for Nursing, Midwifery & Health Visiting for Scotland. The program has been modified for online delivery by Swinburne University of Technology. The program as originally developed was in flexible form having online and print components and allowing participants to enroll and finish at times which suit them. While no fixed time attendance is required apart from two two-day sessions, the program does involve individual face-to-face sessions with a tutor and tutor observation of teaching. The online version allows the program to be offered remote from the awarding institution. The modified program will be trialed by Swinburne in the second semester of 2002. For Napier University the collaborative project provides the opportunity to market the program online remotely. For Swinburne University it provides the opportunity to adopt a program accredited and recognized outside of Australia. The paper identifies some challenges in reaching a common understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the partners.