Exploring the Understanding of Technical University Lecturers on Continuous Professional Development in Ghana
Abstract:
The main
objective was to determine the understanding of technical university lecturers in
Ghana on continuing professional development and the importance it plays in their
career prospects. The study was qualitative with a sample size of forty-eighty.
The sample was taken from six deans of faculties, six heads of departments, and
thirty-six lecturers. The participants were chosen from two technical universities.
Two interview schedules were used to interview the participants. The deans and heads
were interviewed with a different schedule, and the other was used to interview
the lecturers. Some of the research findings included that CPD is any training,
activity, or program that improves one’s knowledge, competencies, and skills in
their field of specialty. It was also revealed that CPD allows lecturers to develop
themselves. The ultimate objective of CPD is to help lecturers be efficient and
effective in their teaching to impact their students positively. The study recommends
that lecturers above fifty years who do not qualify for study leave with pay to
embark on terminal degrees but certify all the criteria for promotion be promoted
not above the senior lecturer position.
References:
[1] Jaafar, R (2006). Faculty Development
at School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia- An Overview, February
2014.
[2] Wilkenson, L.A. (1998), Irby
D.M., strategies for improving Teaching Practices: A Comprehensive Approach to Faculty
Development, Academic Medicine, Vol. 73, No 4/April, 387 - 396 (1998).
[3] King, F. 2014. “Evaluating
the Impact of Teacher Professional Development: An Evidence-Based Framework.” Professional
Development in Education 40 (1): 89–111.
[4] Becher, T. (1996) ‘The Learning
Professions’ Studies in Higher Education 21(1) 43-55.
[5] Higher Education Funding Council
for England (HEFCE) (2007) Centers for Excellence in Teaching and Learning [online].
Available from: www.hefce.ac.uk/learning/tinits/cetl/ [accessed 22 May 2022].
[6] Ferman, T. (2002), “Academic,
professional development practice: what lecturers find valuable”, International
Journal for Academic Development, Vol. 7 No. 2, pp. 146-158, Doi: 10.1080/ 1360144032000071305.
[7] Baume, C. (1999). Practice
Guide 8: Developing as a Teacher. The Open University (support material for H852
Course Design in Higher Education module of the Postgraduate Certificate in Learning
& Teaching in Higher Education).
[8] Roscoe, J. (2002) ‘Continuing
Professional Development in Higher Education’ Human Resource Development International
5(1), 3-9.
[9] Blackwell, R. and Blackmore,
P. (2003) ‘Preface’ in R. Blackwell and P. Blackmore (eds) Towards Strategic Staff
Development in Higher Education Berkshire: SRHE and Open University Press
pp xii-xv.
[10] Parker, S. (2003) ‘The Challenge
of Lifelong Learning’ in R. Blackwell and P. Blackmore (eds) Towards Strategic Staff
Development in Higher Education, Berkshire: SRHE and Open University Press pp 29-39.
[11] Higher Education Funding Council
for England (HEFCE) (2007) Centers for Excellence in Teaching and Learning [online].
Available from: www.hefce.ac.uk/learning/tinits/cetl/ [accessed 22 May 2021].
[12] Whitehouse, C. (2011) Effective
continuing professional development for teachers. Available at: https://cerp.aqa.org.uk/sites/default/files/pdf_upload/CERP-RP-CW-19052011.pdf (Accessed: 8 December 2021).
[13] Caena, F. (2011) Professional
development of teachers: literature review quality in teachers’ continuing professional
development. Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/education_culture/repository/education/policy/strategic-framework/doc/teacherdevelopment_en.pdf (Accessed: 8 December 2021).
[14] ALT (2015). Why is CPD important?
Available at https://www.atl.org.uk/Images/worklife_campaign_cpd_factsheet.pdf (Accessed: 8 December 2021).
[15] Unified Conditions of Service.
For Unionized staff. Of the Public Universities of Ghana. 2015.
[16] Beyer, L. (2002) The Politics
of Standardization: teacher education in the USA, Journal of Education for Teaching,
28, pp. 239-245.
[17] Smyth, J. (1991) Teachers as
Collaborative Learners. Buckingham: Open University Press.
[18] Hoban, G.F. (2002) Teacher
Learning for Educational Change. Buckingham: Open University Press.
[19] Avalos, B. 2011. Teacher professional
development in Teaching and Teacher Education over ten years. Teaching and Teacher
Education 27, no. 1: 10–20.