Research is the foundation for nearly all graduate programs and you will spend a lot of time and energy focussing on your chosen area of specialization, becoming an expert in it by the time you graduate. Normally, as a tenured or tenure track professor you will have research responsibilities. It is important that you maximize your opportunities to conduct rsearch during your studies.

Related to both teaching and researching responsibilities is the need for effective writing skills. This can be complex, because you will be required to write for a variety of audiences including students, fellow Professors and professionals, journals and more.

Some students have a passion and a flair for writing, that positions them well for academic writing, some write narrative and prose well but struggle with academic writing, still others have difficulty writing effectively at all and international students are often faced with the daunting task of writing academically in a foreign language.

The Writing Centre has services to help students improve and hone their writing skills, the English Language Centre (ESL) can help international students improve their writing in English.

Among the many responsibilities of an academic, none is more quintessential than a classroom lecturer. Historically, one of the most common criticisms of university professors is that they often lack the ability to be effective teachers. It is quickly becoming essential that to be competitive as an academic, individuals need to become proficient at different types of instructional methods. The Learning and Teaching Centre at UVic can help develop your instructional skills, as well as introduce different methodologies.

Consider the Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (LATHE) being offered through the Faculty of Education and the Learning and Teaching Centre at UVic. It is specifically designed to give you a headstart your academic career and can be done alongside your graduate degree.