Training for PhD students

Every year, eLab organizes the “Academic Teaching” course, whose main objective is to provide USI PhD students with basic training in teaching that will be useful for their academic teaching practice at the Bachelor’s and Master’s levels. Participants will acquire fundamental knowledge of pedagogy and teaching, which will be useful for designing teaching activities consistent with educational objectives. In addition, the course will enable participants to adopt appropriate teaching tools and strategies to manage lessons effectively and maintain good interaction with students. Finally, participants will also discover how to design and conduct effective learning assessments and develop a greater awareness of the fundamental dynamics that govern teaching and learning.

The fourteenth edition of the course was held in the fall semester of 2025.

• Audience: USI PhD students
• Format: in person
• Next edition: FS26

In collaboration with the Equal Opportunities Service, eLab is offering a practical training focused on applying the principles of Universal Design for Instruction. Faculty members will have the opportunity to learn and apply concrete tools and practical tips for designing or reorganizing their teaching activities in a more inclusive and accessible way.

• Date: 22 April 2026 or 19 May 2026
• Time: 09:00 - 12:00
• Audience: USI Teachers and Assistants
• Format: On-site in Room 253

Info & Registration

Motivation drives learning. But what drives motivation? 

As part of the EASE (Educational Academic Staff Empowerement) project, eLab is offering an on-site workshop in collaboration with the University of Bern on student motivation. 

In this interactive blended-learning workshop, you will be introduced to the Self-Determination Theory, one of the most influential theories on motivation in education. You will be acquainted with a number of strategies to foster distinct dimensions of motivation and experience them during the on-site session.  

The workshop concept requires that you acquaint yourself with the Self-Determination Theory before attending the on-site session, since there will only be a brief recap of its main tenets in form of a self-assessment before the collaborative work within fixed teams begins. The foregoing self-study phase takes about two hours and is built on the stand-alone online module “How to Motivate Students – Ideas from the Self-Determination Theory”, available on the iCorsi platform, which you can complete at any time. 

• Date: 8 May 2026, 09:00-15:30
• Audience: Teachers and assistants from USI
• Room: 408
• Language: English
• The workshop will take place with a minimum of 6 participants and is limited to a maximum of 16!
   

Info & Registration

As a teacher, you know well that content alone is not enough. Students learn better when they feel engaged, are mentally active, and motivated to participate - whether in a physical classroom or behind a screen.

To support you in this mission, the eLab - in collaboration with the University of Bern - has created an eLearning module on student activation and engagement. Inside, you will discover real-life examples, tools, and practical resources that you can apply directly in your courses.

The approach is practical, flexible, and built around your role as an academic professional. There will also be plenty of space to reflect, experiment, and connect theory with practice.

• Audience: lecturers and teaching assistants
• Format: asynchronous online course (in iCorsi)
• Estimated duration: 90 - 120 minutes

Access the course

In the academic year 2025/26, a new series of Brown Bag Lunches is being launched, dedicated to the theme “Redefining Learning Space.” The series, organized by eLab in collaboration with SEDIFO, is open to all academic and administrative staff of USI and SUPSI.

The initiative aims to foster a shared reflection on learning spaces in their multiple dimensions: physical, virtual, relational, and organizational. Each meeting will include a brief introductory talk on a specific topic, followed by an open discussion. The goal is to create a dynamic and informal environment that encourages the exchange of perspectives, experiences, and practices on how space—in all its forms—shapes the teaching and learning experience.

The program is structured around three main thematic areas:

• The physical space of academic environments

• Virtual spaces and the future of teaching 

• Communicative and relational spaces

The series includes 10 meetings throughout the 2025/2026 academic year: 5 in the autumn semester and 5 in the spring semester, scheduled between October and April.

The meetings will take place during the lunch break (12:35 – 13:25) on Tuesdays or Thursdays, alternating between the Lugano and Mendrisio campuses.

As places are limited, registration is required. Lunch will be provided to participants.

Discover the program below!

Registration

IT awareness or security awareness is essential for protecting the personal data and information of individuals and organizations. USI runs awareness campaigns and offers regular training opportunities on IT security.

To test your skills and learn more about IT security, an online training course is available via the SoSafe platform. The course is structured in thematic modules with theoretical concepts and interactive exercises.

• Audience: entire USI community
• Format: asynchronous online course, with certificate upon completion

Access to SoSafe 

Discover and experience the most effective principles for activating and engaging students - both online and in person - and learn how to transfer them directly into your teaching practice. This interactive blended-learning workshop introduces participants to the fundamental principles of student engagement and offers numerous opportunities to experience their effectiveness first-hand. Through a combination of self-paced learning and a synchronous online session, participants will actively apply these principles, reflect on their impact, and integrate them into their own courses.

• Date: 26 February 2026, 09:00-15:30
• Audience: Teachers and assistants
• Format: Synchronous online workshop (Zoom)
• Language: English

Registration is closed!