Learning and Teaching Research Studies
What is it? CTL conducts applied research in learning and teaching to generate evidence that informs institutional decision-making, strengthens teaching practices, and supports student success at the UFS. The Centre’s research is aligned with its research strategy and responds to both institutional priorities and sector-wide challenges.
Why is it important? Research in learning and teaching is important for CTL because it provides evidence-based insights that help improve teaching practices and support student success. It also strengthens CTL’s ability to guide and empower academics by building informed, research-driven communities of practice.
How is it implemented? CTL staff, and specifically the Evidence-Based-Change (EBC) focus area, follow sound methodological evidence-based approaches, within five specific themes, as illustrated below:
| Student Success and Engagement |
Learning and teaching Innovation |
Curriculum Design |
Academic and Leadership Development |
Research Methodology and Evidence-based Change |
| Research focused on student success, engagement, and employability across the student lifecycle. This includes the study of high-impact practices and institutional interventions that support access, persistence, progression, and employability. |
Research that explores innovative and contextually responsive approaches to learning and teaching, including technology-enhanced education, digital and AI-enabled practices, and teaching in resource-constrained, rural, and diverse institutional contexts. |
Research focused on curriculum design, assessment, and blended learning, with particular attention to the development of graduate attributes and meaningful, coherent learning experiences. |
Research that supports academic and leadership development in higher education, including evidence-based staff development initiatives and academic capacitation pathways across the academic career lifecycle. |
Research aimed at strengthening Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) through robust research methodologies, data analytics, and evidence-based change management. |
Various projects and initiatives are implemented and tested within different cycles.
Some recent examples include: