Develop your teaching style, learn how to teach in an activating way and how to design a subject. With the BKO programme you build a foundation for further development and depth in university education. A BKO is an accreditation of your competences in the design and implementation of university education. The programme focuses on your teaching practice and you follow it together with fellow colleagues.
The University Teaching Qualification (Basiskwalificatie Onderwijs (BKO) in Dutch) accredits your didactic competences as a lecturer in university education. All Dutch universities recognize the UTQ as a hallmark of didactic competence for designing and delivering university education. The qualification therefore acts as a reliable reference about you as a lecturer.
The content of the UTQ is evidence-informed and is in line with recent educational and (professional) didactic literature.
This recognized qualification demonstrates that you as an educator are competent in designing university education, in guiding students, in reflection and development, pedagogy & didactics and in testing and assessing students. The UTQ builds a bridge between the vision on Teaching & Learning of the University of Amsterdam (with core values such as social safety, inclusiveness and academic integrity) and the daily educational practice of you as a lecturer.
For whom? | UvA-lecturers of EB and FMG (by proposal of your department) | |
Time investment | 160 hours of which 120 is compensated in scheduling of education (50 hours contact time, 40 hours workplace learning and 70 hours self-study and preparation) | |
Dates | You can start the UTQ programme twice per academic year (each semester has a starting moment).
Intake interviews take place in September or January. The sessions of the UTQ programme start in October or February. |
By creating a rich learning environment, in which:
The BKO programme consists of 12 3-hour sessions with fellow teachers. In addition, there are opportunities for individual feedback sessions. The programme covers one year. The total time investment is 160 hours, of which 120 scheduled. You spend this time attending and preparing for the sessions, making assignments for the portfolio, conducting individual interviews and the final assessment. The distribution of the 160 hours is 50 hours of contact time, 40 hours of learning in your educational practice and 70 hours of self-study and preparation.
In the 12 sessions the 5 competences are covered (see Core Competences below for detailed explanation), see below the distribution:
You will work on your portfolio in the sessions during the programme. The portfolio will be assessed at the end of the programme by two assessors in an assessment interview. The sessions are every 2-3 weeks during the academic year. The sessions take place on campus.
During the BKO programme, Microsoft Teams, Canvas and E-journal will be used.
The BKO programme concludes with an assessment based on your portfolio. This portfolio consists of assignments related to the five competences. You will receive the assignments at the start of the course. During the individual meetings with your mentor (one of the trainers), you make a personal plan for your portfolio, appropriate to your work and possibilities during the programme. If the trainer indicates your portfolio meets the set core competencies, you can sign up for the assessment.
During the assessment interview, two assessors will evaluate your portfolio, one of which will be an assessor from your own faculty. Your portfolio is the basis for the assessment interview. The assessment will determine whether you are competent in the five competences that are central to the BKO. You will receive your BKO certificate after a positive assessment. The certificate is awarded during an informal final meeting.
There are three assessment rounds per year; October, February and June. You must register one month before the start one of these assessment rounds.
This task area involves designing a robust learning environment. When designing (blended) education, a lecturer will focus on a contact moment or series of contact moments and the corresponding teaching methods, study activities, teaching material and ICT applications in education.
As a lecturer, you will be able to:
This task area relates to the proper delivery of teaching, which focuses mainly on groups of students.
As a lecturer, you will be able to:
The testing and/or assessment of results is an essential task area, whether teaching groups or providing individual supervision. Testing and assessment can be either formative or summative.
As a lecturer, you are able:
Throughout their studies, students are supervised both in and outside of class. As a supervisor, you will adapt your supervision style to individual students, know how to motivate them and maintain a balance between your role as a supervisor and assessor.
As a lecturer, you will be able to:
The professional approach required of a lecturer will form the basis of your performance as a subject specialist. This professional approach will largely be informed by a positive attitude towards teaching and students. This includes evaluating one’s own teaching and one’s own role as a lecturer.
As a lecturer, you will be able to:
If you have general questions or comments about the UTQ programme, please contact TLC-Central.