International Faculty Development Program
The International Faculty Development Program (IFDP) is an intensive academic program for international medical and dental faculty offered by Faculty Development Office and the Mike Petryk School of Dentistry within the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta. The medicine and dental tracks are offered in both online and in-person formats. Participants not only attend lectures provided by our renowned medical educators but tour our hospitals, clinics, simulation labs and medical education facilities; participate in a Discovery Learning practicum; and observe our faculty in action as they teach in the classroom.
The program showcases our medical and dental school curriculum and focuses on how we train our faculty to:
- Teach clinical skills
- Design and facilitate problem-based learning
- Deliver engaging lectures
- Provide quality feedback and assessment
The overarching goal of this program is to train faculty to be better teachers by:
- Providing and sharing teaching resources
- Discussing methods of teaching, learning, and assessment
- Modeling good teaching practices, including reflective practice, self assessment, and peer evaluation.
- Identifying trends in medical and dental education
- Providing an overview of the Canadian medical and dental education system and associated processes
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Describe teaching strategies used by the medical and dental school at the University of Alberta and reflect on how they apply to teaching assignments
- Describe methods used to provide constructive feedback and reflect on how it applies to interacting with learners
- Describe methods of evaluation and reflect on how this applies to teaching
This program will be of special interest to those who teach medical and dental students as they will gain valuable skills for classroom and clinical teaching. The program also helps build connections within and between institutions and creates enthusiasm for teaching and faculty development.
Requirements:
- Be a faculty member, director, or manager in a medical school (or hospital linked to a medical school)
- Teacher in clinical or medical sciences
- English proficiency in reading, writing and spoken language is essential
- Possession of a Temporary Resident Visa (apply early since processing times are lengthy)
- Enthusiasm to share and learn
- Completion and submission of session evaluations of each presenter and final program evaluation
- Submission of a reflective exercise (1 page maximum) of what participants learned from the program and how they hope to apply what they learned. Exercises are not marked/graded, but will be reviewed by the organizing committee
SUMMER 2025 in-person cohort
The next offering of the in-person format in Edmonton, Alberta at the UofA's North Campus will be Monday to Friday, June 2 - 13, 2025, 9 am - 4 pm. The number of participants is limited to 40. Cost is $6,000 CAD and includes orientation, course materials, single accommodation at Lister Residence from arrival on Saturday, May 31, 2025 to departure on Saturday, June 14, 2025, breakfast and lunch on working days Monday - Friday, emergency health insurance starting 3 days prior and ending 3 days after course dates, and graduation ceremony. Please complete this form by the payment deadline to indicate your arrival and departure dates and times. If participants are arriving before May 31, 2025 or departing after June 14, 2025, and wish to stay at Lister, they must pay the additional costs of their room directly to the front desk of Lister upon arrival. Note that check in time at Lister is after 4 pm. The security guard will be alerted if you are arriving after 11 pm and be watching for you to open the door. Check out time is by 11 am on the day of departure.
Participants will be expected to pay for their own transportation to and from the airport and while in Edmonton.
Letters of invitation will be sent out as soon as registrations are received.
Visa Requirements: Registrants should use their letter of invitation to apply immediately for a Temporary Resident Visa (Visitor Visa) to allow for any potential delays in the processing time. To check the processing time from your country go here.
Registrants should not pay their registration fee until they receive their visa. Deadline for payment is May 12, 2025. Refunds less a $75 administration fee are provided until this date. After May 12, 2025 no refunds are available.
Register Here for the Summer 2025 In Person Cohort
Pay Here with Credit Card on UAlberta Marketplace
Pay using UAlberta's Marketplace which accepts Union Pay, Amex, Mastercard, Visa and Diners cards. If you do not have a credit card, contact the Program Coordinator at ifdp@ualberta.ca and they will offer you an alternative method of payment.
Endorsements from the June 10 - 21, 2024 Cohort:
"The training program gave us so many fantastic lectures and tours, we are so honoured to have met so many excellent teachers and professors, we are so appreciative!"
"I am extremely honored to have the opportunity to attend IFDP. It made me realize that there is always more to learn beyond what we already know. The course provided me with valuable insights on how to make lectures more engaging. The instructor taught me various techniques which can significantly enhance student engagement within the classroom setting. These strategies also helped establish effective communication channels with students leading to better overall teaching outcomes."
2025 online cohort (dates to be determined)
The online program offers a combination of synchronous sessions (lectures and facilitated small groups) and asynchronous (pre-reading and reflective) activities from faculty experts from the world-renowned University of Alberta. Approximately 50 hours of direct online time with professors is provided, many of whom have received national and international teaching awards. Medicine and dental tracks available.
Tuesdays and Thursdays, TBA, 7 pm - 9 pm MST Canada & USA. Note that due to Daylight Savings Time, Canada will be "springing forward" on TBA causing the sessions to begin one hour earlier than usual from TBA. No classes the week of TBA. Cost is $4,000 CAD/person. UA partners may be eligible for an institutional rate. Institutional sponsors are encouraged to contact the IFDP office at ifdp@ualberta.ca for more information. Deadline for payment is TBA. Refunds less a $75 administration fee are provided until TBA. After TBA, no refunds are available.
IFDP Online Brochure Translated into Chinese
Register Here for the 2025 Online Cohort
Pay Here with Credit Card on UAlberta Marketplace