Centre for Applied Learning and Multimedia

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Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), like all other public institutions of higher learning in Malaysia, has an array of short courses designed as part of its staff development program. To go beyond the norms, UNIMAS is putting an extra emphasis on ensuring quality university education by incorporating new approaches and utilizing state-of- the-art technologies in teaching and learning. This is in line with the requirements for all public universities in Malaysia to install quality assurance mechanism in their academic programs.

One of the proactive steps taken by UNIMAS is to offer a Post-Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning - an internal staff development program specifically designed primarily for its newly hired academics and junior lecturers who have just returned from their graduate studies. The program is designed as a professional development program to continuously upgrade the knowledge and skill of the academics, especially in the area of pedagogy and instructional technology, so that they will be competent in their teaching profession. In addition to the Post-Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning, CALM also conducts professional development programs for the UNIMAS academics. The Unit is also tasked tp assist facilities in developing and designing new curriculum to ensure compliances with established guidelines and standards.

The objectives of the program are:

1. to train UNIMAS academics in teaching and learning on a systematic and formal basis to enhance their personal competence as university educators;
2. to establish a long term commitment toward teaching and learning that is consistent with UNIMAS teaching and learning policies; and
3. to develop a culture of collaborative academic community that places special commitment to excellence in teaching and learning.

This program comprises of seven modules, all of which amounting to 21 credits. The curriculum is a combination of coursework and practicum. The seven modules in this program are:

1. Introduction to University Teaching;
2. Principles of Teaching and Learning;
3. Instructional Design;
4. Management of Teaching and Learning;
5. Assessment of Learning;
6. Instructional Technology; and
7. Teaching Practice.

A Program Management Committee (PMC) is established to plan and monitor the academic curriculum, course delivery and quality assurance of the program. The PMC is chaired by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), and its members consist of the management team at the Centre for Applied Learning and Multimedia and selected professors and senior lecturers from all faculties. To ensure effective delivery of the program, highly qualified and experienced teaching staff are sourced from within and outside UNIMAS.

The program adheres strictly to and meets all the requirements of the UNIMAS Postgraduate Study Rules and Regulations in which quality assurance elements are intrinsically instituted.

UNIMAS is one of the very few public institutions of higher learning in Malaysia to offer such a program for its academics in order to give added value to their profession as university educators.