The University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) is a proof of didactic competence for lecturers in academic education. All lecturers at the University of Groningen are required to obtain this qualification. Lecturers with a UTQ certificate are considered to be qualified for academic teaching by fourteen Dutch research universities. UTQ certification enhances and assures the quality of academic education.

UTQ Quality Requirements

Based on the VSNU UTQ Competences, the University of Groningen chose to emphasize four competences and their related competence requirements. Lecturers must satisfy the following competences in order to be awarded the UTQ:

1. Design and redesign of teaching: selecting and developing suitable learning outcomes, modes of instruction and modes of assessment that dovetail with the degree programme's learning outcomes.
2. Teaching and supervising students: being widely deployable in the main modes of instruction in academic teaching.
3. Testing and assessment: compiling and using modes of assessment that are consistent in content, form and assessment with the learning outcomes and mode of instruction used.

4. Evaluation: evaluating the teaching using a variety of data sources in order to arrive at a well-reasoned improvement proposal.

Within the framework of the University of Groningen International Classroom project, an addendum to the UTQ quality requirements was drawn up in 2013:

• International Competence: design en teach courses in an internationalised curriculum.

UTQ Trajectories

At the University of Groningen there are two variants of the UTQ trajectory:

1. UTQ Regular trajectory (<5 years of academic teaching)
2. UTQ-registration (>5 years of academic teaching)

Registration

After registering for the UTQ-trajectory through our registration system, you will receive an invitation for an intake meeting with an advisor from the Staff Development team of Educational Support & Innovation. We try to schedule an appointment within 2 to 3 weeks. To prepare for the intake meeting you are asked to provide an overview of your teaching experience.

Intake meeting during corona measures

It is still possible to register for the UTQ-trajectory. Instead of a face-to-face intake meeting, you will have an intake meeting via conference call or by phone with one of our educational advisors.

*These costs will only be charged if you actually start the UTQ trajectory.

The Programme & UTQ-modules

Your UTQ trajectory will begin with an intake-appointment with the advisor to inform you about the UTQ trajectory and discuss your personal learning goals and wishes for the trajectory. Afterwards, you will use this information to make an action plan, for which you will gather and formulate your personal learning goals for the programme.

During the UTQ-programme you will follow three modules:

• UTQ Module - Designing & Evaluating
• UTQ Module - Teaching & Evaluating
• UTQ Module - Assessing & Evaluating

These modules are tailored to your teaching practice and will help you further develop your teaching experience. Each module consists of 2 workshops. During these workshops you will receive didactic teaching and make several assignments. The final written assignment of your UTQ programme will be a reflection in which you look back on the trajectory as a whole and look forward to your future development as a teacher. You will then assemble the action plan, completed assignments and final reflection in the UTQ portfolio. This portfolio is assessed by an assessment committee, and further discussed in a review meeting. During this meeting you’ll reflect on your UTQ programme and future development as a university teacher. After a positive evaluation you will receive the UTQ certificate.

Supervision

For the entirety of your UTQ trajectory you will be guided by an ESI advisor, who is your UTQ supervisor. This member will help you with setting up your action plan, in which you lay out your personal goals and planning for the trajectory. During the trajectory your UTQ supervisor is your person of contact for questions about the trajectory.

Registration

After registering for the UTQ through our registration system, you will receive an invitation for an intake meeting with an advisor from the Staff Development team of Educational Support & Innovation. We try to schedule an appointment within 2 to 3 weeks. To prepare for the intake meeting you are asked to provide an overview of your teaching experience. During the meeting it will be determined whether you meet the requirements to follow the UTQ registration trajectory. If you do not meet these requirements, you will be informed about the regular UTQ trajectory.

Intake meeting during corona measures

It is still possible to register for the UTQ-trajectory. Instead of a face-to-face intake meeting, you will have an intake meeting via conference call or by phone with one of our educational advisors.

* When applying for the UTQ registration you first register for the regular UTQ trajectory. This makes it appear that costs are being charged. However, this invoicing will only take place if you are not eligible for the UTQ registration but are going to follow (part of) the regular UTQ trajectory.

Portfolio

In a portfolio you describe your experience with regard to the four BKO quality requirements and you collect examples of your own teaching to substantiate this experience. You also reflect on your teaching and formulate points for improvement. The UTQ registration portfolio is assessed by an assessment committee and in some cases a final interview is held in which your portfolio and your further development as a teacher are discussed. After a positive evaluation you will receive a certificate.

Supervision

During the UTQ registration you will be guided by an ESI advisor, who is your UTQ supervisor. During the process, your UTQ supervisor is your point of contact for feedback on the portfolio and answering questions about the process.