About Us
Our Mission
The mission of the Harvard Initiative for Learning & Teaching (HILT) is to catalyze innovation and excellence in learning and teaching at Harvard. Launched in 2011 through a generous gift from Gustave and Rita Hauser, HILT is a University-wide initiative overseen by the Office of the Vice Provost for Advances in Learning (VPAL).
Four sub-goals guide HILT’s work:
- build on Harvard’s strengths in teaching and learning;
- meet the educational needs of students (both technological and pedagogical);
- strengthen the science of learning; and
- develop a robust network at Harvard around teaching and learning innovation.
HILT serves as a strategic connector that strengthens Harvard’s teaching and learning ecosystem by complementing the work of individual Schools, programs, and departments. We identify opportunities to bridge gaps, forge connections, and amplify impact across institutional boundaries. Central to our approach is the cultivation of partnerships with faculty, students, and staff, leveraging those relationships to coordinate initiatives that no single entity could accomplish alone. HILT’s distinctive value lies in our ability to convene diverse stakeholders, align distributed efforts, and build capacity throughout the university, ultimately advancing educational excellence in ways that enhance local expertise.
Advancing Learning
The Harvard Initiative for Learning & Teaching (HILT) has sponsored hundreds of local innovations and experiments at a variety of scales, benefiting faculty and learners across the University. We have also facilitated the “institutionalization” of successful self-sustaining innovations and experiments. We continue to develop and nurture a large and diverse community of practice around teaching and learning excellence that involves all Harvard Schools.
Events & Programming
HILT events bring Harvard’s teaching and learning community together to connect, share insights, and enhance their understanding of the topics at hand. Our programming provides opportunities to discuss timely teaching and learning priorities. Our annual conference explores topics that impact educators across the University and serves as an opportunity for engagement, growth, and community-building.
Learning Communities
With a university as expansive and decentralized as Harvard, it can be difficult to engage with individuals outside of one’s School or department. HILT events foster cross-School connections and allow for the cross-pollination of ideas and advancements.
Additionally, HILT convenes the Teaching and Learning Consortium (TLC) and a selection of Affinity Groups around shared teaching and learning interests and goals, offering opportunities to connect through meetings and events.
Resources
Our curated collection of resources offers materials from past HILT events and our former grants program, including tools, guides, and insights that support innovative teaching and learning. With this open dissemination of knowledge, we aim to extend the impact of our community’s work in fostering collaboration and continuous enhancements in pedagogy across Harvard.