Compulsory Attendance

The goal of the Tutor Development Program (TDP) is to enhance learning and teaching in the Business School and support tutors in their teaching. High quality learning experiences for students are seen as vital, and tutors' are essential in creating positive, effective learning during tutorials.

It is therefore compulsory for all tutors to participate in at least 6 hours of professional development related to teaching. However, all tutors are strongly encouraged to attend all of the modules within the TDP. All TDP attendance by casual staff is paid and a Certificate is issued on completion. The compulsory requirement is outlined in the employment contract tutors sign prior to commencing employment.

New Tutor Requirements

For tutors who are new to tutoring in the Business School (including those staff who have tutored elsewhere but not previously within the Business School), it is compulsory to attend three specific TDP modules. However, you are welcome and paid to attend all modules if you choose to do so. The modules that are compulsory for new tutors are clearly marked on the TDP registration web pages.

Please note: Modules delivered by the eLearning team CANNOT be counted towards any tutor's compulsory attendance. The eLearning modules are clearly identified on the TDP web pages.

Returning Tutor Options

Returning, experienced tutors have a wider range of options to select from to complete their compulsory 6 hours of professional development each semester. This can be any three of the TDP modules (that equate to 6 hours) of your own choice OR any combination of the following that equates to 6 hours or more: 

1. Attendance at some TDP modules;
2. Completing the guided reciprocal peer review process (paid for three hours), following the peer review processes recommended as part of the TDP;
3. Participation in Business School or University-wide Learning and Teaching seminars or workshops; or
4. Demonstration of leadership within your teaching team or Discipline related to enhancing students' learning (e.g. innovation in teaching, such as leading a team marking moderation meeting for assessment, creating annotated examples to help students with assessment, enhancement of feedback given to students, or development of assessment rubrics, mentoring less experienced tutors, establishing regular team meetings with tutors, etc., where such practices are not already established practice). This leadership has to be documented (see below).

If you choose any of options (b), (c), or (d), you need to document your professional development using the Documentation of Professional Development Template and submit it to tutordevelopmentprogram@econ.usyd.edu no later than week 7 of semester.

Opt-out option

Those casual teaching staff who feel strongly that they do not need any further engagement with professional development related to teaching and who wish to be exempted from the compulsory six hour attendance requirement, can submit written approval from their Chair of Discipline (CoD) via email to tutordevelopmentprogram@econ.usyd.edu.au with the subject line "Application for Exemption". Please do not request the Tutor Development Manager to provide this exemption, as only Chairs have such authority.

Your obligation to contact TDP manager

Tutors need to take the initiative to meet these compulsory attendance requirements. Although regular updates about the TDP will be emailed to you from the beginning of semester you will need to contact the TDP manager if you do not receive this information. If you are not receiving emails about the TDP in the first week of semester, please email tutordevelopmentprogram@econ.usyd.edu.au - thank you.