Diversity and Coherence: The Continuum of Staff Development Actions Around a Common Core

Abstract

This chapter depicts a continuum of pedagogical development designed by the Institute for Research and Training in Higher Education (University of Liège, Belgium) and based on five major competencies, eight overarching quality principles, and three levels of commitment to pedagogy with their three corresponding credit mechanisms: basic training sessions, an intermediate university certificate, and an advanced master’s degree. The purpose of this continuum is twofold: to offer relevant training according to different faculty needs and experience, and to organize a progression wherein participants can rely on previous achievements to tackle the next stage of development. Such frameworks are important foundations for consistent promotion of the academic mission of teaching in higher education. They are also useful to account for the work of staff development units to competent bodies.