Our role in enhancing Learning and Teaching

The University Teaching Academy (UTA) works to secure a consistent, high quality student experience through formal and informal continuing academic professional development (ACPD) opportunities for all staff at MMU. 

We can offer support and leadership, advice and guidance relating to all aspects of learning, teaching and assessment at MMU.  UTA staff work with all faculties and all professional teams – this gives us the opportunity to share the ‘bigger picture’ with colleagues and also to develop close working relationships. The UTA Staff page details which of our staff is the primary link for each faculty or team.

We support institutional priorities and projects that focus on areas of strategic importance, such as student engagement, progression and retention, education for global sustainability and employability. 

At the heart of the UTA mission is a belief that engaging teaching and learning will have a positive influence on student engagement, retention, progression, success and employability.

We will support institutional strategy through a range of on-going initiatives, including:

  • Development  [Principles for Learning, Teaching and Assessment within the Education Strategy, promoting excellence in teaching and learning through academic CPD and Professional Recognition Schemes (MMUPSF), assessment planning, design and effectiveness, supporting CMI, university-wide curriculum themes, retention and student success, etc.]
  • Interventions   [Academic Induction for new staff, NSS and CMI Support, reward and recognition of teaching, professional recognition, observation of teaching, CPD for collaborative partners]
  • Evaluation of Impact - of ‘a’ and ‘b’ on the student experience through scholarship of teaching and learning (funded SoTL projects), hosting pedagogic research networks, and supporting the evaluation of university-wide projects.

Through the development and implementation of policy, interventions and evaluation, UTA will seek to raise the confidence of staff and students, recognising and rewarding teaching excellence, and instilling a sense of pride into being a teacher and / or learner at Manchester Met..

Our strategies, resources, interventions and support are based on an action research model: