UT lecturers examine their own education

Lecturers from the University of Twente will examine their own education during a period of over a year. It concerns a pilot project in which sixteen lecturers will participate. The project is initiated by Centre of Expertise in Learning and Teaching (CELT), HR and 4TU.Centre for Engineering Education (4TU.CEE).

The project officially starts at 20 October 2016. Marije Hahnen and Martine ten Voorde of CELT think it is a logical follow-up of the ‘University Teaching Qualification’ (UTQ, BKO), proof of didactic competence for lecturers in academic education. The project aims to deliver sixteen UT lecturers with Senior University Teaching Qualification (SUTQ) at the end of the project in December 2017.

Incentive

SUTQ, that is rewarded with a certificate, has a less strict framework than UTQ according to Hahnen. “It serves more as an incentive, than an obligation”, she says. Ten Voorde adds: “We focus on lecturers who are more experienced, who want to develop themselves and their education. With this project we show our appreciation for staff who carry out good teaching practices and would like to capitalise their knowledge”.

The sixteen lecturers that participate in the pilot project have been put forward by five faculties and University College ATLAS. Till December 2017 they will receive  a total of 160 hours to work on this research project. Furthermore they are offered a coach, seminars, workshops and 2500 euro ‘pocket money’ per person by CELT and 4TU.CEE.

Snowball effect

Lecturers will examine themes such as student motivation, advancing comprehension moments, video coaching and gaming in education. Hahnen explains: “They investigate how they can improve and innovate their own teaching practices. Obviously from an academic point of view”.

Hahnen and Ten Voorde hope that lecturers will cooperate during the project and develop as a community. “We would like to create a real community” says Ten Voorde. ‘We hope they will inspire and serve as an example for other lecturers and will trigger a snowball effect”.

Source: UTnieuws