Assessment of teaching competence

Why is teaching competence assessed?

The assessment of teaching competence implements the goals of the education and research strategies of the Tampere University community regarding pedagogical renewal of the higher education community, the close connection between teaching and research, and the appreciation and support of teaching. 

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. A well-conducted assessment also provides applicants with valuable insights for further expanding their teaching competence.

Teaching competence is evaluated, when we: 

1. recruit new teaching staff (including university instructors, university lecturers, professors, tenure track staff);
2. award the title of docent; and
3. assess the advancement of tenure track staff along the tenure track.

Ways to assess teaching competence

Teaching competence can be assessed with the help of, for example, a teaching portfolio, a teaching demonstration, a development assignment, or a combination of the aforementioned.

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

1. Pedagogical philosophy: Conception of learning and how it can be promoted through teaching.
2. Pedagogical training and activities to maintain pedagogical skills: Courses in (university) pedagogy and other pedagogical courses.
3. Experience of teaching and supervision: Courses taught, theses supervised, experience of serving as an academic tutor/instructing the preparation of students’ personal study plans, experience of teaching and learning practices that promote students’ learning and skills development. Utilisation of learning materials as well as physical/virtual learning environments and/or methods.
4. Development of teaching and instruction: Utilisation and development of teaching materials (such as presentations, videos, publications, textbooks and other teaching materials) and learning environments. Utilisation of teaching practices, feedback and research findings to develop teaching and supervision. Promoting the visibility of one’s own development activities.
5. Teacher collaboration and the development of collaborative teaching: Collaborations with teachers, students, employers and other stakeholders, the development of collaborative learning processes (such as the development of courses and degree programmes, collaborative curriculum development), participation in various collaboration networks, interdisciplinary and international collaboration. 

Teaching Demonstration

Applicants may be required to give a teaching demonstration to verify the competences included in their teaching portfolio and allow reviewers to observe their ability to interact with learners. Teaching demonstrations are given in an authentic classroom setting, if possible, or as a separately organised event. In addition to a lecture, a teaching demonstration can take the form of an interactive virtual class, a supervisory session or some other applicable teaching event. The teaching demonstrations given by applicants for the same position must be assessed in the same way. Applicants for the same position may not attend each other’s teaching demonstrations. Teaching demonstrations are assessed by the appointment committee, the successful applicant’s future supervisor, or the docent committee or a similar body. They are not assessed, for example, by the audience that attended the lecture.

Interview

Applicant interviews are conducted to clarify and verify claims presented in other application documents (such as how applicants’ pedagogical philosophy translates into practice) and to assess applicants’ interest in the development of teaching and their ability to actively participate in the development of collective practices. 

Our assessment criteria matrix serves as a foundational tool for assessing teaching competence and can be tailored to fit the specific requirements of the open position.

Open positions at Tampere University

Tampere University as an employer