There are 81 Higher Education CETLs, or Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, throughout England and Northern Ireland. CETL(NI): Institutional E-learning Services (CIES) is the name of the CETL based in the Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Ulster, founded in May 2005.

The CIES project aims to:

• reward high quality e-learning;
  
• help staff to have a fuller understanding of the learner's perspective;
  
• provide teacher and learner support;
  
• share good examples of 'learner centred' teaching;
  
• create online tools/resources to improve teaching and learning.

Our work

CIES is currently developing a suite of tools for staff, aimed at enhancing teaching and learning. These tools include:

• Hybrid Learning Model
  
• Practice Exchange Repository
  
• Cohort Profile Tool
  

Once the tools are fully implemented amongst teachers, a recognition and reward scheme will be rolled out. Staff who display exemplary practice in online teaching will be rewarded with a year's access to a team of content developers who will help them create other high quality learning activities and resources.

Eventually, all these tools will be brought together in a central environment called 'iLearn', embedded in the University's virtual learning environment, WebCT Vista.

For more information on each individual tool, please visit the 'Your Toolbox' section of this site.