CUT | Curriculum and Academic Staff Development (CASD)

Located within the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching (CILT), the CASD unit supports the university’s curriculum initiatives, staff development, and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) activities.

We implement institutional policies related to curriculum, teaching, learning, assessment, and academic development, as guided by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and CUT’s strategic frameworks.

Continuous Professional Learning (CPL)

The pursuit of CPL is integral to the growth and success of university teachers, aligning with the DHET National Framework for Enhancing Academics as University Teachers (2018). We support the ongoing growth of academics, from newly appointed lecturers to academic leaders, promoting excellence in teaching, learning, research, innovation, and community engagement.

Our Core Focus Areas

Curriculum Development and Design

Designing curricula for mainstream, extended, online, and short learning programmes.
Implementing policies for curriculum innovation and learning material design.
Ensuring alignment with industry needs and regulatory bodies (DHET, CHE, SAQA).
Applying an outcomes-based approach to enhance learning effectiveness and compliance.

Academic Staff Development

Integrating CUT strategic goals, such as Graduate Attributes and Work-Integrated Learning.
Identifying and addressing the training and development needs of academic staff.
Facilitating professional development workshops and high-quality training sessions.
Assisting staff with teaching portfolios of evidence and coordinating induction for new appointees.

Curriculum Renewal and Transformation

Driving the decolonisation, Africanisation, and indigenisation of the curriculum.
Promoting the internationalisation of the curriculum.
Transforming teaching through Collaborative Online Intercultural Learning (COIL).
Coordinating DHET-funded projects, including UCDG curriculum transformation, SoTL, and language policy development.

Industry Exposure

Aligning academic programmes with South Africa’s labour market and economic needs.
Enhancing practical teaching methods with real-world industry insights.
Strengthening research relevance by addressing local socio-economic challenges.
Fostering industry partnerships for funding, resources, and student opportunities.

Student Feedback on Learning Experiences

Providing constructive evaluations of teaching effectiveness to optimise student learning outcomes.
Enhancing lecturers' professional development and self-awareness of teaching strengths.
Promoting equitable learning environments by revealing and addressing potential unconscious biases.
Generating institutional data to inform faculty development programmes and elevate teaching standards.

Flagship Programmes

Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education (PGDip)

This coveted programme aims to professionalise the practice of university lecturers, develop critically reflective practitioners, and align with the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF). It deepens lecturers’ understanding of higher education as an academic discipline and improves teaching excellence through evidence-based, theory-informed pedagogical approaches.

View PGDip Higher Education Programme → Download Programme Prospectus (PDF) →

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)

Our SoTL flagship programme is twofold: it mentors upcoming academics and strengthens communities of practice within disciplines, providing opportunities for academic staff to share pedagogical expertise and drive continuous improvement in teaching and learning.

DHET Early Career Programmes

The CASD unit actively manages prestigious, fully funded national initiatives designed to accelerate the careers of emerging and mid-career academics. This includes the New Generation of Academics Programme (nGAP) and the Future Professors Programme, providing dedicated support, mentorship, and research funding.

Explore Early Career Programmes