Overview

• The Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (GCHE) is a nationally accredited course to advance your career as a university educator who can use scholarly evidence to enhance and expand your practice.
• The course is aligned with the Advance HE UK Professional Standards Framework, the basis for applications to become a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
• Teaching academics (incl. sessional staff), and professional staff are eligible to have their fees waived.
• Staff can build a strong theoretical and scholarly base to promote their scholarship and excellence in learning and teaching in higher education.

On this page

What is the GCHE?

The Graduate Certificate in Higher Education is designed to help you to develop your career as a tertiary educator and to contribute directly to extending a culture of excellence in learning and teaching – particularly at ACU. The entirely online course aims to enable you to enhance your capabilities in learning and teaching in Higher Education.

The course is work-integrated so that you undertake learning activities that are of direct relevance and benefit to you. Because the learning and assessment tasks relate directly to activities you undertake in your daily work, your study time will be efficient and productive. The sequence of eight micro-credentials is designed to scaffold your learning towards an integrated, scholarly project.

In these ways, the course aims to model and illustrate good practice and ensure your learning experience is transparently relevant and strategically beneficial.

Who can enrol in the GCHE?

This course is designed for people who have a bachelor degree (or higher), hold an appointment within a tertiary education institution, and are employed in a role that directly involves teaching (i.e. a teaching-focused or teaching-research role). Full-time, part-time and sessional staff are equally welcome to apply. Some staff who are not academics may also be eligible for admission: ask the Course Coordinator for details if you can see the relevance of the course to your work at ACU. 

Students of the GCHE who are teaching academics (including sessional staff), and professional staff who have a role leading teaching and learning at either the School or Faculty level are eligible to have their fees waived.

What you will learn

In undertaking the GCHE, you can expect to:

• establish a strong theoretical and scholarly foundation to reflective practice that informs your teaching
• undertake curriculum and assessment design in ways that reflect an understanding of adult learning principles
• design and implement course and unit evaluation and improvement plans
• integrate the use of digital technology into your learning, teaching and assessment strategy in ways informed by educational theory
• undertake a high-quality scholarly project in higher education

Course structure and time commitment

Delivery mode: Online

Duration: 2 years minimum (4 years maximum)

The GCHE comprises eight microcredentials, six specified microcredentials and two elective microcredentials. These are each 5 credit points in value, each taking nominally 75 hours of study time.

The eight microcredentials are to be studied in sequence, one at a time. We have designed each microcredential to build on the ones that precede them. Each one is offered in an 8-week block scheduled within the professional term calendar.

The microcredentials are equivalent to half a standard unit, but have only one summative assessment task each, scaffolded by formative assessment tasks. You should plan on committing approximately 10 hours a week to study. Read the 2024 Course Guide for the course and microcredential descriptions.

Testimonials

• "The GCHE course was one of the best and most useful things I ever done (I mean it)."
• "I really enjoyed the entire experience, and my scholarship is undoubtedly better for it."
• "... after almost 20 years I was keen for taking stock and reflecting, and [the GCHE] has been a great support to that process."
• "Reflecting on this year of learning I can see that I have journeyed a fair few miles, my thinking is certainly different albeit still striving to achieve a more scholarly approach, and my choice of words when facilitating my students has certainly changed as a result of this course."
• "Your comments for all six assignments have provided guidance and enabled me to develop a deeper understanding of the learning process and how my teaching does influence the learning of my students. It is exciting to think about how I will approach next semester in facilitating my new students."
• "All of the content has created some drive for me to change my units to give the students the best learning chance they can have."
• "I have really learned so much from this course. I feel much better prepared to carry out my teaching duties for my faculty, and am certain my new learning will benefit not just myself, but my students."
• "The way assessments were structured was impressive as they were scaffolded, and one could improve the work based on the experience with the previous assessment. It was evident that you spent a considerable amount of time and care to provide such comprehensive and constructive feedback."
• "I can design curriculum!"
• "Thank you for such a valuable learning experience. Even though I was highly challenged, I really grew throughout this unit."

How to apply and contact information

Complete the GCHE Application process on the ACU website.

For enquiries about the GCHE, please email: CEI@acu.edu.au.