Assessment of teaching competence

Why is teaching competence assessed?

The purpose of teaching competence assessment is to produce a good and well-grounded picture of the applicants’ teaching competence and their motivation to develop as a teacher. Applicants approved for giving a teaching demonstration can also get a feedback summary issued by the assessment pool that participated in filling the post. The purpose of the feedback is to support the development of the applicants’ teaching competence.

How is the assessment done?

Teaching competence can be assessed with the help of, for example, a teaching portfolio, demonstration lesson and interview.

In the teaching portfolio used to assess teaching competence, applicants present their skills in the following areas:

1. Pedagogical philosophy: the applicant’s conception of learning and how teaching can support it
2. Pedagogical skills: pedagogical training and research, awards received for good teaching, other acknowledgments, and merits
3. Experience of teaching and supervision: courses taught, theses supervised, working as an academic tutor, using different teaching methods and learning environments, teaching and supervision practices that promote learning and skills development
4. Development of teaching and supervision competence: the development of and making use of teaching materials and learning environments, using students’ feedback to develop teaching, basing teaching on research
5. Joint development of teaching: cooperation with teachers, students and employees, multidisciplinary cooperation, curriculum design, internationality, pedagogical leadership
6. Other teaching merits
7. Previous assessments of teaching competence

In the recruitment of employees to the first stage of the tenure track (Assistant Professor), the assessment of the applicants’ teaching competence can be conducted based on only the teaching portfolio.

The purpose of the teaching demonstration is to exhibit the applicant’s competencies presented in the teaching portfolio and to give the assessors an idea of how the applicant handles an interactive situation. Where possible, teaching skills are demonstrated in an actual teaching situation or as a separately arranged demonstration lecture.

The purpose of the interview is to clarify and ensure details provided in the application documents – such as the practical application of pedagogical philosophy – and to chart the applicant’s interest in teaching development and abilities for being an active developer of communal modes of action.

A pool of experts supports assessment

A pool of teaching and learning experts supports the evaluation of teaching competence in the recruitment of personnel to teaching posts and the promotion assessments in tenure track posts.

The pool consists of pedagogically merited professors, other teachers and students. The pool members are called upon to assess teaching competence.

The assessment of teaching competence at Tampere University, president's decision (PDF)Read more on the assessment criteria of the teaching competence (PDF)How to compile a teaching portfolio (PDF)Tampere University as an employer