Teaching at VU Amsterdam is not just the transfer of knowledge. It’s about inspiring critical thinking, curiosity, and helping students see the world in new ways. A back-and-forth where educators and students grow and learn together.
At VU CTL, we recognize this impactful role of teachers. Through their work, they shape the future, and help students reach their full potential. And on November 28, we celebrate their contributions.
Programme
This special day marks the achievement of a number of VU teachers receiving their University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) certificate, with the event themed around the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL).
We will kick off the day with two inspiring workshops on SoTL, led by former UTQ participants. Everyone is welcome to join these engaging sessions.
The ceremony will be hosted by Klaas de Zwaan, education expert and lecturer-researcher in Media Studies. A key highlight of the certification ceremony will be a conversation between Klaas de Zwaan and Jan Willem Grijpma, PhD candidate and teacher trainer, where they will be exploring the latest in educational practices.
Following the ceremony, a reception will be held with drinks, providing you an opportunity to network and discuss the future of education at VU Amsterdam.
Workshops
Workshop 1 – More student engagement through role assignment in social annotation?
Social annotation can help students better prepare for lectures. However, participation often decreases unless the activity is graded, which can lead to superficial engagement or even plagiarism.
In Björn Brügemann’s Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) project, he investigated whether assigning the role of facilitator to certain students could increase engagement without using grade-based assessments. Students in this role are responsible for initiating discussions and engaging their peers. Although the initial results did not show a significant increase in participation from non-facilitators, they provide valuable insights for further improvement. During this workshop, Björn will share his experiences with the experiment. He invites education professionals to actively participate in annotation using Perusall. This serves as preparation for a discussion aimed at generating ideas to further develop this research.
Time: 13:00-13:50
Location: VU Education Lab, NU 1A-25
Language: English
Workshop 2 – How can we help students connect and learn beyond their own ‘bubble’?
Students tend to have little contact with people in vulnerable circumstances, such as people living in poverty, those with practical education, psychiatric problems, or older people from migrant backgrounds. Although education often talks 'about' these groups of people in courses around health and well-being, students may rarely meet people living in vulnerable circumstances in person. Patient lectures are organised within some courses, and there is sometimes room for direct interaction in Community Service Learning (CSL). However, how can we ensure that students interact within the university's walls and learn more from these experiences (often) outside their own 'bubble'?
This workshop offers inspiration for education professionals to guide interactive dialogues with citizens. We also like to exchange practical experiences and engage in discussions based on theoretical concepts such as epistemic justice and intellectual humility. In doing so, we hope to contribute to students' personal development and learning important skills such as critical thinking and social engagement.
Time: 14:00-14:50
Location: VU Education Lab, NU 1A-25
Language: English
UTQ certification and celebration
A key highlight of the certification ceremony will be a conversation between Klaas de Zwaan and Jan Willem Grijpma, PhD candidate and teacher trainer. Jan Willem will share his valuable insights on integrating the principles of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) into his teaching practice. He will also reflect on his PhD journey, offering a deeper perspective on how it has contributed to his approach to teaching and improved student learning outcomes. This session promises to be an inspiring exchange, showing the powerful connection between research and teaching.
Time: 15:00-17:30
Location: Theatre 5 & Lobby Campus Square, wing A, 2nd floor NU building
Note: Graduates will receive a personal invitation for the certification ceremony, including a form where they can register.
Discover the future of education at VU Amsterdam and register today! We hope to see you there.
