Professional Development Course (PDC) for Graduate Teaching Assistants

At CUHK, Teaching Assistants (TAs) play a vital role in the academic community by supporting faculty members in various teaching and learning activities. As part of the postgraduate education, most full-time Research Postgraduate (RPg) students are required to undertake teaching duties as TAs. These teaching duties, assigned by respective departments, include conducting tutorials/ laboratories, grading assignments and exams, addressing student inquiries, invigilating examinations and etc.

Completion of a professional development course, either through CLEAR or other recognised programmes within their department, is mandatory for all graduate teaching assistants.

The Professional Development Course organised by CLEAR consists of three parts, with a certificate awarded upon successful completion of all sessions.


Part I – Induction

Part I is designed to orient new graduate teaching assistants with their roles and responsibilities. It aims to equip them with the essential knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary for effective teaching and learning. Topics covered include foundational principles of effective teaching, preparation for tutorials/laboratories, techniques for student engagement, and assessment methods.

Part I is conducted at the beginning of each academic year, with registration managed by respective departments.


Part II – Enhancement

Graduate teaching assistants are required to select at least one workshop from the following options offered under the Improving Postgraduate Learning (IPL) program:

  • Communication Skills Workshop
  • Presentation Skills Workshop
  • Power of Voice
  • Introduction to Teaching & Learning

The schedule and registration details for these workshops are available through the IPL registration system.


Part III – Assessment

Part III involves assessment conducted by the students’ home departments. Graduate teaching assistants will be evaluated on their presentation and teaching abilities through individual presentations, seminars, or classroom observations. Further details regarding assessment procedures can be obtained from respective departments.