The Centre for Excellence in Teaching (CET) at Portucalense University: goals, strategies and expected outcomes

Abstract

[EN] This paper presents part of the change process carried out at the Portucalense University (UPT), Portugal, aimed at promoting student centred teaching and learning. To attain this goal, the Centre for Excellence in Teaching (CET) was created to support academic staff in the achievement of this outcome. The objectives of the CET are to promote pedagogic training sessions for academic staff, to develop pedagogical resources and publications and to create a website for the dissemination of best practices and for the recognition of teaching quality at UPT. The preliminary results of the implementation of the activities developed by the CET reveal a positive participation and involvement of academic staff. Teachers showed interest in developing active learning strategies and openness to change their teaching practices. Some examples of the activities implemented by teachers, in the first semester of 2017/2018, are briefly presemted in this paper.