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Events, tools, initiatives

PD Day 2025: Coming Together for Student Success

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The BCIT PD Day Committee are excited to announce that the BCIT Professional Development Day (PD Day) 2025 will be held at the Burnaby Campus on Wednesday, June 4, from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm for all staff and faculty.

All daytime classes and exams at all BCIT campuses are cancelled on this day, unless previously discussed with your Associate Dean. Please share this information with your students and make accommodations to reschedule classes and exams where necessary.

This year’s PD Day theme, Coming Together for Student Success, recognizes our collective impact in fostering vibrant and inclusive communities and excellent educational programming that supports student success. Professional development sessions throughout the day will focus on four areas—education, work, wellbeing, and technology—to inspire a dynamic culture of shared learning, engagement, and collaboration.

The day will kick-off with a warm welcome and an inspiring keynote address, followed by a series of professional development sessions. To close the event, you will be invited to enjoy a complimentary BBQ lunch while mingling with your colleagues.

More information about PD Day 2025, including session registration, will be shared in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we encourage you to consider becoming a presenter at PD Day 2025. This is a great opportunity to lead a session for your colleagues while sharing your knowledge on a topic that inspires you.

Consider presenting at PD Day 2025  

All staff and faculty are invited to apply to become a presenter at BCIT PD Day 2025. Session topics should align with one of four streams—education, work, wellbeing, or technology. The BCIT Learning and Teaching Centre is available to assist with session and resource development for all prospective presenters who need it. Please complete the Presenter Application and submit it by Friday, April 4, 2025.

If you have questions about PD Day 2025, please contact pdday@bcit.ca. We look forward to seeing you at PD Day 2025!

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Grant Deadlines Fast Approaching!

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Just a reminder to all that the application deadlines for grants are just around the corner.

Travel Reimbursement for Enhancing Knowledge Grant (TREK):

TREK grants increase opportunities for permanent faculty members (FSA and BCGEU) to attend conferences that specifically enhance teaching and support student learning.

We will accept applications for a new round of TREK grants from March 17 to March 30, 2025. Within the budget, we prioritize first-time applicants, then award grants on a first-come first-served basis. Please note that we cannot consider applications for conferences that occur before a decision is made about your application. Application results are sent a couple weeks after the closing date. For more information, please visit this site: https://www.bcit.ca/instructional-development/grants/trek-grants/

Send applications to develop@bcit.ca

Access TREK grant applications at https://www.bcit.ca/instructional-development/grants/trek-grants/

Instructional Enhancement Grant (IEG):

All BCIT employees involved in teaching or teaching-related activities are eligible to apply for an Instructional Enhancement Grant of up to $10,000. These grants provide funding for educational initiatives that enhance teaching and learning at BCIT.

We will accept applications for a new round of IEG grants from March 17 to March 30, 2025.  For IEG grants, we accept all applications within the window and then award grants based on

  • educational impact
  • applicability to other members of the BCIT community
  • opportunities for innovation
  • joint support (other resources to support the project)

For more information, visit https://www.bcit.ca/instructional-development/grants/instructional-enhancement-grants-ieg-ie-grant/

Send applications to develop@bcit.ca

Access IEG grant applications at https://www.bcit.ca/instructional-development/grants/instructional-enhancement-grants-ieg-ie-grant/

Special Interest Grant (SIG):

SIG grants provide funding for workshops initiated at the department level for BCIT instructors (FSA and BCGEU) and staff, which will enhance teaching and learning at BCIT.

For SIG grants, we accept applications on an on-going basis. We will start accepting applications for a new round of SIG grants on March 17, 2025, and will continue to accept applications for the fiscal 2025/2026 year until funds are exhausted.

Grants are awarded within the budget on a first-come first-served basis, provided the application fits the grant criteria. Once the funding is exhausted for the year, we will close the applications and post a notice on the webpage. You can find more information at https://www.bcit.ca/instructional-development/grants/special-interest-grants-sig/.

Send applications to develop@bcit.ca

Access SIG grant applications at https://www.bcit.ca/instructional-development/grants/special-interest-grants-sig/

Learning and Teaching Innovation Grant (LTI):

The Learning and Teaching Innovation Grant provides faculty, staff, and other service departments with funds and support for applied initiatives aimed at enhancing the student experience through alignment to the pillars of the Learning and Teaching Framework (LTF). For more information, please read the Learning and Teaching Innovation Grant Information Sheet.

We will accept applications for a new round of LTI grants from March 10 to March 23, 2025.  For LTI grants, we accept all applications within the window and then award grants based on alignment to the criteria laid out in the Learning and Teaching Innovation Grant Rubric.

For more information, please visit https://www.bcit.ca/learning-teaching-centre/learning-teaching-framework/learning-and-teaching-innovation-grant/

Send applications to develop@bcit.ca

Access IEG grant applications at https://www.bcit.ca/learning-teaching-centre/learning-teaching-framework/learning-and-teaching-innovation-grant/

Call for Proposals: Open Education Grants 2025

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BCIT instructors and faculty are invited to submit proposals for grants that support the creation of open educational resources (OER) in credit courses. Several grants are available this year. The objective is to empower educators to create accessible, high-quality, and sustainable resources that reduce financial barriers for students. Collaboration across the institute is encouraged.

Examples of past open education projects can be viewed in BCIT’s Institutional Repository or in our showcase.

Current opportunities

Learn more about open education on the Open BCIT webpage. If you have any questions, please contact open@bcit.ca.

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The Application Window for TREK Grants Is Now Open!

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The Learning and Teaching Innovation Grant Committee is accepting applications for TREK (Travel Reimbursement for Enhancing Knowledge) grants from now to January 26, 2025.

TREK grants help permanent faculty members from both FSA and BCGEU attend conferences that specifically enhance teaching and support student learning.

The committee prioritizes first-time applicants and awards grants on a first-come, first-served basis. Application results are sent a couple weeks after the closing date.

For more information, please visit https://www.bcit.ca/instructional-development/grants/trek-grants/

TREK grant applications are available at https://www.bcit.ca/instructional-development/grants/trek-grants/

Send completed applications to develop@bcit.ca

Upcoming Grant Application Periods

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Travel Reimbursement for Enhancing Knowledge (TREK) Grants

January 6–26, 2025

TREK grants increase opportunities for permanent faculty members (FSA and BCGEU) to attend conferences that specifically enhance teaching and support student learning.

The Learning and Teaching Innovation Grant Committee is accepting applications for a new round of TREK grants from January 6 to 26, 2025. Within the budget, we prioritize first-time applicants and award grants on a first-come, first-served basis. Application results are sent a couple weeks after the closing date.

For more information, please visit https://www.bcit.ca/instructional-development/grants/trek-grants/

Special Interest Grants (SIG)

Ongoing

The SIG provides funding for workshops initiated at the department level for BCIT instructors (FSA and BCGEU) and staff, which will enhance teaching and learning at BCIT.

Grants are awarded within the budget on a first-come, first-served basis, provided that the application fits the grant criteria. Once the funding is exhausted for the year, we will close the applications and post a notice on the webpage. More information is at https://www.bcit.ca/instructional-development/grants/special-interest-grants-sig/.

Other Grants

Stay tuned

The grant committee will be accepting applications for other grants facilitated by the Learning and Teaching Centre, such as the Learning and Teaching Innovation (LTI) grants and the Instructional Enhancement Grant (IEG), again in the spring. Stay tuned for an announcement about application dates for those in March 2025.

Polytechnic Teaching Program for Educators

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BCIT is excited to offer the Associate Certificate in Polytechnic Teaching (POLY) program, designed for current and aspiring educators. As a premier polytechnic institute in BC, BCIT offers flexible, relevant, and future-proof education. This program is delivered by instructors with extensive experience in the field of teaching and learning. The POLY program emphasizes active and applied learning strategies, aligning with the hands-on approach valued in polytechnic education.

Who is the POLY program for?

The POLY program is designed for current and aspiring post-secondary instructors. The program is an opportunity for current instructors to enhance their teaching skills and gives aspiring instructors the knowledge and strategies to teach in an applied-skills environment. It’s also an effective way to build your resume and to make you a more competitive teaching candidate.

The POLY program can be completed in two to five years through BCIT’s Flexible Learning format (part-time). All courses are also transferable to the Provincial Instructor Diploma Program (PIDP) at Vancouver Community College (VCC), allowing program participants to further enhance their teaching credentials.

Key learning outcomes

Upon completing the POLY program, students will be equipped to:

  • Develop suitable learning outcomes for courses, ensuring that the goals fit the setting.
  • Apply learning theories to improve both teaching and the students’ learning.
  • Design online, in-person, and blended learning environments that adapt to various learning styles.
  • Apply teaching strategies using tools and technologies that meet specific goals and objectives.
  • Create strategies that promote an inclusive learning environment.
  • Evaluate instructional strategies to continually improve teaching methods.
  • Choose assessment strategies, techniques, and feedback mechanisms that align with the learning outcomes and result in effective student evaluation.
  • Create and maintain a professional development plan to stay current with trends and issues in your field and in adult learning.
  • Develop habits of reflection, self-awareness, and ongoing improvement.

Take the next step in your teaching journey. The Winter 2025 term course offerings for the Associate Certificate in Polytechnic Teaching are now available. Register today.

Want to learn more about the POLY program? Attend the online info session on November 5 from 5:00–6:00 p.m.