Teaching and Learning at the University of Pretoria

The culture of excellent teaching is firmly entrenched at UP across all fields of study. 

Important information for academics:

• Flexible Futures Conference (26-27 August 2025): Website & First Announcement & Online
  Abstract Submissions
• Professional Development Courses offered by EI in 2025
  • ​24 Professional Development Courses by the Education Consultancy (EC)
  • 15 E-Learning Professional Development Courses (including clickUP ULTRA)
  • E-Education Self-Paced Academy for Lecturers: Flyer & Self-enroll here
  • The Academic Induction Programme
  • Online Tutor Training Course
• Teach large classes the UP Way 2025
• Data Analytics
  • EI (HERI) Data Analytics Portal
  • Help file
  • Learning analytics @ UP: Reports, dashboards & alerts
• Tutorials
  • Tutor guide 2025
  • Tutorial 2025: Information, Training, and Administration
• Student feedback on teaching  survey (SFTS):
  • SFTS module enrolment dates for 2025
  • Guideline for Lecturers
  • Guidelines for Administrators
  • Frequently Ask Questions about the SFTS
• Study Guide Templates (2025)
• Generative AI for Teaching and Learning Guidelines
  • Lecturer's Guide (2025)
  • Student's Guide (Short) & Student's Guide (Complete)
  • AI Tutoring at UP
• New clickUP ULTRA Help Site 
• New AI design assistant in clickUP help site
• TEACH The UP Way
• Video: TEACH The UP Way (4 minutes)
• Continuity plans in the case of a crisis necessitating the suspension of contact classes:
  • Teaching continuity plans for lecturers
  • Learning continuity plans for students
• High Impact Modules Project & Managing Module Reviews
• First three weeks @ UP
• SoTL Grants 2025: Application closing date 26 January 2025

Other information for academics:

• Teaching Matters (Publication showcasing UP's T&L) 
  • May 2025 Edition
• Documents: 
  • Teach The UP Way 2025 (Draft)
  • Teaching Excellence as a Driver for Student Success at UP
  • UP's approach to equitable digital learning
• EI 2024 Annual Report
• T&L documents (2025)
  • Teaching Portfolio Template
  • Peer Review at UP
• Instructional designers (IDs) & Educational Consultants (ECs)
• Guidelines for prescribed books/material 
• Student Feedback on Teaching
• Transdisciplinary Teaching and Learning Project Registration
• Global Online Teaching and Learning at UP
• Workshops & Training
• Curricular Community Engagement (CCE)
  • Framework & Toolkit
• Creative Studios
• Tutoring Guidelines
• Online Assessment
• The University of Pretoria’s Integrated Academic Framework


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Teaching and Learning related support from other departments (not EI):

• IT Department T&L support services:
  • Audio Visual Lecture Venue support services
  • Emergency Audio Visual Assistance in lecture venues (immediate)
• LinkedIn Learning
• Library Services
• UP printers: Copying, printing, binding, etc. 
• Scheduling Office:
  • Lectures, tests, examinations
  • Ad hoc bookings, e.g. sick tests
  • Timetables
• Disability Unit
• Invigilators’ office (Hatfield): Call 816512, Centenary building

Teaching and learning at the University of Pretoria

UP introduced a flipped-learning methodology that requires students to prepare thoroughly for class, complete pre-class assessments and engage in class. 

Study guide templates (2025)

In 2023, the Senate Teaching and Learning Committee decided that the UP study guides had become overly lengthy and unfocused. Consequently, they resolved that study guides would focus exclusively on module-specific content relevant to the academic project. Each department was tasked to develop its own Departmental Guidelines, which would cover policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and support services, contextualised as required. This general document was to be uploaded to all clickUP modules and websites. Module study guides were then required to refer directly to the Departmental Guidelines via a link rather than repeating the same content.

Support for academic staff

A team of dedicated instructional designers (IDs) and educational consultants (ECs) will support you. Educational consultants can advise you on learning design, didactically sound hybrid teaching and learning, alternative assessment, curriculum, and open educational resources (OER). Your Faculty's Instructional Designers (IDs) will assist you should you need any help with eLearning, clickUP, Online assessment (QuestUP, clickUP, Turnitin, Respondus), and in-video assessment.

UP Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) grants

The aims and scope of The Scholarship of Learning and Teaching (SoTL) at UP are:

• To advance scholarly teaching at an institutional level.
• To provide opportunities for UP staff to implement innovation in teaching and learning.
• To contribute to knowledge development and dissemination in disciplinary teaching and learning.
• To advance reflective practice.
• To share good teaching practices.

We invite you to apply for the 2025 Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Grant. The application deadline is 26 January 2025, so we recommend starting your preparation soon. This grant provides an exciting opportunity for academic staff to support and enhance teaching practices at UP through evidence-based research and innovative pedagogical approaches. To help guide your application, please refer to the following resources:

• The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning @ UP procedures document outlines the detailed application process, links to the required forms, related information and eligibility criteria. You can access it HERE.
• SoTL Briefing Session Recording – If you could not attend the briefing session on 14 November 2024, or would like to revisit the key points discussed, you can view the recording HERE.

We encourage all interested staff members to review these materials and consider applying for the grant. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact the SoTL Team.