Work in progress: Integrating a college of engineering teaching and learning center into a leading position in the institution

Colleges of engineering increase accessibility to higher education in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. There is often a need to promote students´ learning and thinking skills in order to maintain high academic standards and at the same time avoid high rates of failure and dropout. In addition, academic staff with high pedagogical qualifications is an essential requirement. Establishing a Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) is an increasingly frequent process for achieving these goals. Such centers offer various programs for the promotion of teaching and learning in academic institutions. This article examines the factors that influence the significant role played by TLC in an institution, and the effectiveness of its curricula. The literature refers to several factors, such as the initiation of innovative programs and participation in the institutional strategy plan. In our college, the tight linkage between teaching and learning and the involvement of faculty members in TLC programs are highly influential factors.