PEDAGOGICAL ACADEMY. The next call for applications for the title of Excellent Teacher opens on April 1. If you are thinking of applying, we recommend that you start reviewing your teaching portfolio and preparing your “reflections”, which forms an important part of the application.
At Sahlgrenska Academy, it is the Docentship Committee that prepares and vets applications for the title of Excellent Teacher. Gunnar Tobin was awarded the title himself last year. As vice chair of the Docentship Committee, he is now managing the work to assess applications at the faculty. The application period begins on April 1, and will end on May 15.
“Start writing and gathering your different documents in plenty of time. It often takes longer than you expect to put together a strong application,” Gunnar points out, continuing:
“You may have already written your teaching portfolio, but the application itself is slightly different from the portfolio. A whole host of information needs to be included in the application, a large part of which is the applicant’s reflections on their own teaching work.”
Recognizing Great Teaching
Teachers who are tenured employees of the University can apply to be assessed for the title of “Excellent Teacher,” which was created for the purpose of recognizing pedagogical proficiency among teachers. The Sahlgrenska Academy has so far chosen eight Excellent Teachers, who form part of the cross-university pedagogical academy network. The title is also factored into the University’s salary criteria, and needs to be recognized during pay review meetings.
To be considered, teachers must have an in-depth, up-to-date knowledge of their subject, relevant to their field of education, have successfully completed professional “Högskolepedagogik” (Teaching and Learning in Higher Education) courses levels 1, 2, and 3, or have gained qualifications recognizing an equivalent level of expertise, and, finally, must also contribute to academic work within the framework of a complete academic environment and the subject of their teaching work.
“Linking research to teaching also forms part of the teaching portfolio, whereby the applicant is expected to describe their own research and dissemination of knowledge in relation to teaching in higher education,” says Gunnar.
Helpful Assistance from the PIL Unit
A more detailed description of the teaching portfolio can be found on the PIL unit homepage (pil.gu.se). The portfolio is laid out across ten different headings, under which everything from the applicant’s background and teaching experience to research activities within their field of teaching are to be described. Extensive experience in one section of the portfolio cannot be used to counterbalance a lack of experience in another.
“The PIL unit will be holding a seminar providing advice on how to write the application. Although it’s not obligatory to attend, I would recommend taking part in this if you are planning to apply,” says Gunnar Tobin.
External Appraisers and Interviews
Following an initial assessment, to be done by the Docentship Committee during the spring, complete applications will then be sent out to the appraisers, who will deliver their verdicts in the autumn.
“The Docentship Committee is going to conduct interviews with the applicants, the findings from which will enable our dean to make a decision toward the end of the fall,” Gunnar tells us.
To read more about Excellent Teachers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, go to: http://sahlgrenska.gu.se/internt/om-din-anstallning/excellent-larare
To read the PIL unit’s information about Excellent Teachers, go to: http://pil.gu.se/resurser/excellent-larare
