Teaching portfolio
Purpose
Paragraph four of the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities Act states: When filling academic positions, the university sets out rules for the professional assessment of applicants. Part two: This professional assessment takes into consideration the extent to which applicants are professionally qualified within the areas of research; teaching; dissemination etc., in accordance with the structure of the position. Furthermore, any additional requirements as given in the job announcement must be fulfilled.
Roskilde University wishes to ensure systematic documentation and assessment of applicants’ teaching qualifications when positions with a teaching requirement are to be filled. For this reason, teaching portfolios are collected from all applicants for any positions that include a teaching component (with the exception of PhD positions).
What is included in a teaching portfolio?
At Roskilde University, a teaching portfolio is a collection of material that illustrates and provides evidence of the applicant’s strengths, professional development and achievements as a university teacher. It is a carefully selected collection of documents that builds a well-argued and substantiated account of the applicant’s teaching skills, university teaching qualifications, and professional development over time. The teaching portfolio is to teaching what lists of publications are to research and scholarship (Seldin, 2004). Teaching portfolios should relate to the specific benefits and challenges of working with teaching at a university that is organised around problem-based project work.
Teaching portfolios at Roskilde University are based on eight elements, however the format is free and other relevant areas (such as: other discipline-based fields of interest; challenges in teaching/supervision; personal experience and reflection; as well as leadership experience (for Associate Professors; Professors; Heads of Departments; and Heads of Research) can also be included.
The eight elements in a teaching portfolio at RUC are:
- Teaching Philosophy – your teaching profile: Personal theories on good, effective teaching and learning (at Roskilde University). A personal reflection which, based on the submitted documentation of experience, qualifications, and knowledge of learning, illustrates your work in education at the university level, development, specific strengths, potential and areas of interest. The relationship between research and teaching can also be looked into.
- Pedagogical action plan: goals for your learning and development as a teacher.
- Peer supervision, experience in mentoring, other supervision such as supervision at associate professor level.
- Teaching experience (development of new courses and modules; planning and implementation of courses of study; development of teaching materials, subjects or courses).
- Experience with implementing examinations, tests, trials and evaluations.
- Reflection of the effect of institutional framework and conditions on teaching.
- Teaching qualifications gained through postgraduate education in pedagogy; or other similar courses in pedagogy.
- Recommendations and statements from colleagues, supervisors (mentors) and managers; as well as diplomas and prizes that you have received or been nominated for.
Formalities
The language used in the teaching portfolio must be the same as the language used in the job announcement. Applicants with a native language other than Danish may develop their teaching portfolio in English, regardless of the specifications of the job announcement.
You are welcome to prepare your presentation portfolio in whatever format you wish. Portfolios should not exceed twelve pages in length including appendices.
Use of teaching portfolios
Teaching portfolios are used when filling all positions that are described as having a job structure with an integral teaching component
Review committee
Teaching portfolios will be used during the overall assessment of candidates for a position:
- The review committee will give their assessment of each candidate’s teaching qualifications.
- The review committee’s recommendations will include an account of the candidate’s teaching qualifications based on their submitted teaching portfolio
Assessment is made based on the specific job description as per the vacancy announcement and in accordance with the given position’s specifications and level.
Appointment committee
All applicants’ pedagogical qualifications will be considered during the job interview. If, on the basis of the overall assessment, the appointment committee decides to recruit someone with limited teaching experience then a plan for providing that person with the necessary pedagogical qualifications must be drawn up in conjunction with their appointment to the position.