Great teachers can change lives, and in higher education, they have the power to shape the confidence, curiosity and career trajectories of future creative professionals. In the creative industries, where thinking differently is everything, outstanding educators are essential.
The creative industries inject almost $45 billion into Australia’s economy every year, making up around 5.5% of national employment. With demand for creative talent only growing, it’s never been more important to educate and support the next generation of thinkers, makers and innovators.
Our Graduate Certificate in Higher Education gives new and experienced tertiary teachers in the creative arts the tools, experience and confidence to take their teaching from good to great. The course is ideal for both early-career educators and experienced teachers looking to deepen their practice, build their confidence and advance their career prospects in the higher education sector.
In this article, we explore what it takes to be an outstanding educator, and how this course can help you inspire and shape the next generation of creatives.
As Collarts’ Associate Dean, Prof. Natasha Taylor, puts it, “A good tertiary teacher meets students where they are. They care deeply about each student's experience and ambitions.”
There’s no one way to learn, and throughout your career you’ll meet students that thrive in all sorts of conditions. A great teacher genuinely cares about setting their students up for success – however that’s defined for that individual student.
Speaking on the Graduate Certificate in Higher Education at Collarts, Prof. Taylor explains, “There's a deep commitment to understanding who learners are and how they learn best, and a strong belief that meaningful teaching grows through dialogue and community. It’s a place to play, experiment, take risks, and build lasting networks.”
Collarts graduate and creative educator, Bronwyn Pringle, says of her experience,
“The Graduate Certificate of Higher Education challenged my thinking about delivery and design, particularly for non-traditional learners.”
Adaptability as an educator is made possible by a strong foundation. That foundation is your identity and purpose as a teacher, and it’s completely unique to you. It’s a direct reflection of your values, goals and strengths.
The Graduate Certificate in Higher Education helps teachers develop, strengthen and nurture this identity through reflective practice and imaginative teaching exercises that can be taken straight from the classroom into their career.
Prof. Taylor says,
“It encourages educators to craft their own signature pedagogy – one that’s future-focused, responsive, and unafraid to challenge traditional disciplinary boundaries.”
It’s a sentiment shared by many Collarts graduates. 2023 alum and now Collarts’ Head of Online Programs, Jess Carroll, puts it simply: “We didn’t just learn about creative pedagogies, we experienced them. This approach has strengthened my practice and reignited my passion for student-centred learning.”
Great teachers never stop learning and are always looking for ways to develop, grow and evolve their practices.
The Graduate Certificate in Higher Education attracts many experienced educators for this exact reason, because it offers them a chance to strengthen their skills and propel their careers further.
Prof. Taylor says,
“There are many lecturers who come to Graduate Certificate courses after 5 or 10 years of teaching because they want to learn more, give their practice more foundation, or develop their career prospects.”
The Graduate Certificate course is also a valuable opportunity for program and people leaders seeking to invest in their teaching teams, helping drive:
Improved course quality
Better student experience scores
Stronger graduate outcomes
A confident and capable educator workforce
It’s hard for anyone to grow in an unsupportive environment, and students are no different. A creative, welcoming and engaging learning environment is just as vital to a student’s ability to learn as their teacher’s expertise.
Think flexible studios buzzing with collaboration, digital labs where ideas come to life, or relaxed spaces that encourage risk-taking and curiosity.
These environments are inclusive and dynamic; places where students can experiment, fail safely, and grow with “both rigour and joy”, as Prof. Taylor puts it.
But it’s not just about the physical space or community dynamic in the classroom. Great teachers design every part of the learning journey – from the curriculum to the assessments – to support exploration and creativity, rather than just measuring performance. In that sense, teachers are creators too, designing experiences that challenge and inspire, not just judge.
Creativity is the key to growth. All teachers benefit from thinking creatively and using imaginative methods, but for higher education teachers in creative fields, it’s a huge advantage.
The Graduate Certificate in Higher Education at Collarts is unique because it’s specialised for creative arts educators.
Most similar courses cater broadly to all subjects, but Collarts focuses on the distinct practices, environments, and perspectives within the creative industries.
As Prof. Taylor says,
“While we ensure graduates are equipped to teach in a variety of higher education contexts, our foundation is always the creative arts – its people, its spaces, and its unique pedagogies.”
You’re already shaping creative minds. Now it’s time to grow your own practice.
Study the Graduate Certificate in Higher Education 100% online at Collarts.