FoNS Learning and Teaching Development Programme

The FoNS Learning and Teaching Development Programme (LTDP), in most cases, must be completed as a prerequisite for both probation and promotion for new lecturing staff (and in some cases those in the Learning and Teaching job family). An exemption may be agreed by the new staff member's department in certain circumstances (for example, enrolment in the PG Cert in University Learning and Teaching offered via the EDU).

It is expected that the LTDP will normally be completed within 1-2 years of appointment.

The starting point for the programme is a meeting with the appropriate Director of Undergraduate Studies, or equivalent, (which constitutes FoNS Workshop 1 - see Compulsory FoNS Workshops section below) who will assign an Academic Mentor (a senior member of the Department) and a Teaching Buddy (for example, an experienced colleague; this should not be someone still completing the LTDP); a participant's Academic Mentor and Teaching Buddy should not be the same person.

These individuals should be asked to undertake observations of your teaching sessions. The DUGS will also talk through and approve any exemptions, discuss options around the elective elements of the programme of workshops listed below, explain how to register for them and agree a timeline for the programme. They will complete and approve the FoNS LTDP Exemption Form - November 2023, which must then be sent to the LTDP Coordinator.

Please note, it is the participant’s responsibility to keep the Faculty (via the LTDP Coordinator) up-to-date with their progress, and if they believe they have completed the programme. The Faculty will not proactively check participants have completed the components.

We ask participants keep their own record using the exemption form, and inform the LTDP Coordinator after completing each of the components and when they believe they have completed the programme; the LTDP Coordinator will then verify this, and the participant will be sent their certificate of completion, and their department and HR informed. Participants should assume the LTDP is not complete unless they have received their certificate of completion.

Should you be interested in taking any of the FoNS-specific elements of the LTDP as a refresher (and you are not currently required to take the LTDP), please contact the LTDP Coordinator.

Compulsory FoNS Workshops

You must complete these workshops in order:

1. FoNS LTDP Workshop 1 - Departmental Teaching Practices

Arrange with your Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUGS), or equivalent. For more information - FoNS LTDP Workshop 1 - Departmental Teaching Practices (PDF)

2. FoNS LTDP Workshop 2 - Lecturing Skills

Workshop with member of staff in the Faculty. For more information - FoNS LTDP Workshop 2 - Lecturing Skills (PDF)

3. FoNS LTDP Workshop 3 - Learning Technologies for Teaching

Completed online - you will be contacted about this after workshop 2. For more information - FoNS LTDP Workshop 3 – Learning Technologies for Teaching

4. FoNS LTDP Workshop 4 - Designing for Learning

Workshop with FoNS Vice-Dean (Education). For more information - FoNS LTDP Workshop 4 - Designing for Learning (PDF)

To book Workshops 2 or 4, please email the LTDP Coordinator.

Compulsory EDU workshops

You must complete 3 compulsory workshops delivered by the Educational Development Unit (EDU).

• Introduction to Teaching for Learning
• Introduction to Supervising PhD Students (for those who commenced the programme prior to April 2022)
• Fundamentals of Supervising PhD Students (for those commencing the programme from April 2022. From April 2022, new doctoral supervisors at Imperial are required to complete this course, therefore this cannot be exempted unless already completed or in cases where no doctoral supervision would be expected (for which confirmation would need to be provided))
• Introduction to Personal Tutoring

We also strongly recommend that participants complete the following EDU workshop, in preparation for the final element of the LTDP - the HEA Application:

• STAR Introductory Workshop

See also the EDU's advice for New Lecturers.

Elective EDU workshops

You must complete at least 3 Elective Workshops delivered by the EDU.

Please note that not all EDU Workshops are acceptable for the LTDP. Workshops selected must relate directly to your teaching practice. If in doubt, please contact the LTDP Coordinator. 

Once completed, please email details of your elective workshops to the LTDP Coordinator.

Teaching Observations

Three observed sessions of your teaching should be monitored by the Academic Mentor and/or the Teaching Buddy.

The Observation Form can be downloaded here: FoNS LTDP Teaching Observation Form

Once completed, please email a copy of the form to your DUGS (or equivalent) cc'ing your observers and the LTDP Coordinator.  

Advance HE Fellowship Recognition

The final component of the LTDP is the completion of the Advance HE Fellowship Recognition application (at the level of Fellow, D2), information on which can be found on the EDU webpages here. 

You are strongly advised to attend a STAR Pre-submission Workshop. This will help you to assess whether your application is ready to be submitted for review. 

Once finalised, the application form should be submitted via the Imperial STAR Framework webpage. 

To complete the LTDP requirements:

• For those who commenced the LTDP prior to 01 September 2023, you will need to send a copy of the application and the submission confirmation email from STAR to the LTDP Coordinator for your LTDP records. 
• For those who commenced the LTDP after 01 September 2023, you will need to send a copy of the application plus confirmation of the award of fellowship to the LTDP Coordinator for your LTDP records. 

If you have questions please contact the LTDP Coordinator, or for Advance HE Fellowship queries, contact the EDU STAR team.