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Professional development

Man and woman standing talking at front of a seminar room
Carine Cheu and Alexander Chan at Central Saint Martins. Photo: Vic Phillips

The Teaching, Learning and Employability Exchange offers a flexible approach to development for UAL colleagues. Get a qualification or professional recognition linked to your teaching, learning or research practice within arts higher education.

Certain job roles at UAL may be encouraged or required to undertake teaching qualifications.  Read more in the UAL Teaching Qualification and Recognition Policy on Canvas (UAL staff login required).

Teaching qualifications and courses

Join the PgCert or MA Academic Practice to undertake a formal academic course that can help you to develop your practice. Find our policies about remission and reward whilst you study on Canvas.

  • Woman seated at desk with projector and laptop, answering questions from audience
    Image courtesy of UAL

    Thinking Teaching

    A 2 day introduction to teaching and learning in the arts, designed for UAL colleagues new to teaching or whose role includes an aspect of teaching or learning support.

  • Alex Bean and Olivia Binns in the Studio, BA (Hons) Bespoke Tailoring, London College of Fashion, 2017, © Alys Tomlinson

    Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) in Art, Design and Communication

    This key professional qualification, accredited by AdvanceHE, supports teaching, learning and research.

  • Students working with technician in the letterpress workshop
    Mei Zhang (Study Abroad Student), Natalie Gibson (Tutor) and Rita Kumari (Specialist Print and Dye Technician and Associate Lecturer), 2013, Study Abroad, UAL | Photograph: Alys Tomlinson

    MA Academic Practice in Art, Design and Communication

    Completed the PgCert? Join our community of creative educators to undertake a disciplinary practice-based or educational research project.

Professional Recognition

Apply for AdvanceHE Fellowship to reflect on and have formally recognised the professional status of your existing teaching and learning expertise. This does not have to include additional academic study.

Our Professional  Recognition Programme provides you with structured guidance to prepare an application for Associate, Fellow, or Senior Fellow.

Find out more about how to gain Fellowship at UAL.

Two women standling at a screen printing bed discussing student's work
Apoorva Singh working with Charlotte Brown (Specialist Print Technician), BA (Hons) Fine Art: Print and Time-Based Media, Wimbledon College of Arts © Alys Tomlinson

Supervising Research Degrees

Our research supervision course is open to colleagues who supervise PhD students. Find out more about the Supervising Research Degrees unit, which is accredited by SEDA (Staff and Educational Development Association).

Learn more about SEDA’s Professional Development Framework.

Two people leaning down to look at the bottom of a large, orange, black and white painting
Alaa Kassim in the Studio, MA Fine Art, Chelsea College of Arts. © Alys Tomlinson 2017.

Digital learning and teaching

  • Birds eye view down on 2 students working with laptops, instruments and recording devices.
    Sound Arts Studio, MA Sound Arts, London College of Communication. Image courtesy of UAL.

    Digital Learning staff development  

    Browse digital tools, support, guidance and staff development sessions to support your teaching online and face to face (UAL login required)

  • Woman sitting at a desk
    Adrienne Bennie, PhD Research Student, Chelsea College of Arts. Photo: Alys Tomlinson

    Teaching online

    Access guidance and training to help you provide high quality teaching online

  • Aerial shot of hands on laptop typing, with orange papers beside on desk
    Portfolio by by Craig Green, MA Games Design, London College of Communication. © Alys Tomlinson

    Studying online

    Get your students started on key UAL online learning platforms

Submit your work to Spark Journal

Spark is an open-access online journal for university educators, researchers and students. It explores all aspects of teaching and learning in arts, design and communication. Spark is published by the Teaching, Learning and Employability Exchange at UAL.

Contributions can be multimedia, and in the form of case studies, research papers, provocations, student (and co-produced) contributions and reviews.

Explore Spark Journal and review the submission guidelines.

Various small objects arranged on a pink bench next to a marble effect background. Includes mirror tiled rainbow curve, seesaw with a red pompom and three wooden rods.
Image courtesy of Spark Journal

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