About the program
The LIFT program (formerly the Faculty Institute of Teaching) is designed to support UVic instructors at all stages of their teaching careers.
LIFT includes over 30 workshops, a formal Certificate in Post-Secondary Teaching and Learning for first-year instructors, and a hybrid lunch & learn series featuring peer-led discussions on timely topics in teaching and learning.
The program is aligned with UVic’s institutional priorities around accessibility, Indigenization, and generative AI, and aims to foster a collaborative and reflective teaching culture.
Program overview
The program is designed with a structured pathway in mind that progresses into a certificate if desired, or can be taken as standalone courses and workshops, between 90-120 minutes in length. LIFT provides a cohort-based learning community for shared dialogue and reflection and is offered in a blended format (in-person, synchronous and asynchronous components). It is open to all instructors and faculty at UVic.
Learning outcomes
The LIFT program has five main learning outcomes:
Apply core pedagogical principles grounded in learning science, inclusive design, and decolonizing pedagogies
Design lessons, courses, and assessments aligned with student learning outcomes
Explore opportunities to engage in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
Six thematic streams
Fundamentals in learning and teaching
Lesson design, course design and assessment
Technology-enhanced learning
Inclusive and innovative teaching strategies
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
Career development and educational leadership
Program components
The LIFT program has three distinct components and is offered to instructors at all levels:
Ongoing workshops
Workshops are available each term on selected topics. Workshops will be available Fall 2025. Please visit Learning Central for more details.
Lunch and Learn Series
Lunch & Learn sessions provide opportunities for peer discussions on emerging and practical teaching topics and exchanges of ideas across disciplines. Each session is 45 minutes long and will happen monthly.
Certificate in Post-Secondary Teaching and Learning
The certificate is a hybrid program offered over a year, approximately 30 hours. Those who complete the program are awarded at the end. See below for further details.
Topics
Workshops offered through the LIFT program will correspond to the six core modules and include topics related to innovative, inclusive and research based pedagogical practices.
Certificate Details
| Module | Delivery | Key focus areas |
| 1. Fundamentals of Lesson, Course & Assessment Design | Blended (2 months) | Backward design, learning outcomes, assessment planning, GenAI integration, instructional design |
| 2. Learning Technology Ecosystem | Asynchronous (2 months) | Brightspace, Zoom, collaboration tools, assessment technologies, inclusive tech integration |
| 3. Fundamentals of Learning & Teaching | In-person (2 months) | Pedagogical theories, student engagement, inclusive learning environments, diverse learner needs |
| 4. Inclusive & Innovative Teaching Strategies | Blended (3 months) | Inclusive pedagogy, anti-racist and decolonizing practices, Universal Design for Learning |
| 5. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) | Blended (3 months) | SoTL project design, reflective practice, research dissemination |
| 6. Teaching Dossier Development | Blended (1 month) | Dossier preparation, teaching philosophy, evidence of teaching effectiveness |
Participants may also supplement their learning with LIFT Workshops & Clinics and the LIFT Lunch & Learn Series.
Learn more about the program
Stay tuned for the first two workshops, available in early Fall 2025.
If you are interested in joining the LIFT certificate program, please submit an expression of interest via email to ltsisupport(at)uvic.ca.
