Valerie Lopes, BSc, MA, PhD
“Education – the way we organize teaching and learning throughout life – has long played a foundational role in the transformation of human societies. It connects us with the world and to each other, exposes us to new possibilities, and strengthens our capacities for dialogue and action. But to shape peaceful, just, and sustainable futures, education itself must be transformed. (UNESCO, 2021)
With extensive global experience designing, developing, and evaluating learning experiences that enable individuals to be informed, responsible and engaged citizens in a complex and increasingly digital world, I have a unique combination of teaching, research, and educational leadership expertise.
Having led and guided projects with higher education colleagues on six continents my expertise in digital skills and online learning, faculty development, outcomes based curriculum development, assessments as/for/of learning and program review and evaluation is diverse. My experience also includes research and assessment projects for the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, Colleges and Institutes Canada, eCampusOntario, and the International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group).
My multidisciplinary educational background includes a PhD in Leadership in Higher Education from the University of Toronto, an MA in Education from the University of Central Michigan a BSc from the University of Toronto and several certificates. I have received awards for my work and have presented and published, on a range of topics.
As a Professor in the School of Arts and Science at Seneca College, I have taught courses in the Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma and Degree Programs, in hybrid, fully online and campus-based formats. I currently teach in the Honours Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies and General Arts Programs. I have worked within the Center of Teaching and Learning in its various iterations, including (on secondment) as the Director of Teaching and Learning. During that time, grounded in the Scholorship of Teaching and Learning, I participated in over 25 Program Quality Assessment Board reviews for new degree proposals, developed innovative faculty development programs, led digital learning strategies and initiatives and chaired the Educational Technology Committee for Ontario’s 24 Colleges.
My work with the University of Central Asia , part of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), focuses on the curriculum and course design for the preparatory year and the 4 majors of study in the School of Arts and Sciences. I am a Senior Advisor with their newly established Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology, currently focused on a digital strategy and Quality Assurance process and policies for the School of Arts and Sciences.
Collaborating with the Centre for Professional Learning, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, I was the Lead Advisor, Competency Based Education, for a project with the University of Rwanda’s College of Education, funded by the Mastercard Foundation.
I am a Member of the Council of National Fellows for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, an advisor on the Curriculum Review Committee for OISE/University of Toronto’s Continuing and Professional Learning Programs; and a peer reviewer for the International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology.
I have also taught in the MA in Education program for Central Michigan University, supervised Capstone projects and participated on thesis/dissertation committees at OISE/UT.
As a passionate advocate for access to high-quality (open) educational resources and classrooms (digital and physical) without “walls”, my love of teaching, commitment to lifelong learning and my reflective practice, grounded in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning is aimed at enabling inclusive and engaging learning experiences and spaces.
I believe that an education should enable us to make connections to the context of our lives and to think critically about the information that we base decisions on. It should challenge us to not accept the world as it is, to be hopeful about the future and to empower ourselves and those we come into contact with to do what we/they do not think is possible.
Some details of some of my work are included on LinkedIN. Contact me via email: valerie@valerielopes.ca.