Starting out as a teacher can be overwhelming: you develop course material, need to deliver it convincingly to students, and at the same time find your way in a complex organisation. “The multitude of tasks and responsibilities can feel daunting. Due to high workloads and sometimes limited support, beginning teachers often feel overstretched,” says Bo Janssen, project leader at the VU Centre for Teaching & Learning. “Research shows that 44% of early-career teachers in higher education experience insufficient support. As an academic community, we really need to address this structurally.”
GO: Groei in Onderwijs
To change this, Janssen, together with colleagues from other universities, developed the Groei in Onderwijs (‘Growth in Education’) credential: a quality mark for programmes that support new teachers effectively. “In primary, secondary and vocational education, national quality standards exist, but in higher education such a label was still missing,” Janssen explains. “Yet we see that good support has a demonstrably positive impact on teachers’ development.”
Human Movement Sciences is the first programme to meet this quality standard. How do they do it? With the so-called Powerful Eight: onboarding programme, peer intervision, mentoring, classroom observation, a GOordinator, buddy system, growth plan and dedicated development time. “With the GO credential, we show that the Powerful Eight really work: they give programmes a clear framework and ensure strong guidance for new teachers.”
Rector Magnificus Jeroen Geurts: “At VU we want to lead the way in quality education. Good support is essential in this: it helps new teachers find their place and continue to grow. Human Movement Sciences shows how this can be done and how well it works. This label acknowledges that valuable effort, and I am of course very proud of it.”
Emilie Maas, junior lecturer Human Movement Sciences
“As a starting teacher, I had a lot to take in. The university is a big organisation, and expectations come at you fast. Luckily, I was paired with a buddy who guided me and was always available. We also have fixed peer intervision moments and classroom visits from colleagues. That involvement really helps me grow as a teacher. The label is therefore more than deserved! Personally, I gain a lot of energy from inspiring students. I hope many more early-career teachers will be able to experience this support and that sense of encouragement.”
About the GO credential
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Leiden University, Radboud University Nijmegen, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Leiden University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands Initiative for Education Research (NRO), and the Dutch National Student Association (ISO) have worked together to adapt the concept of Samen Opleiden (“Educating Together”) to the higher education context. Within this framework, a programme can earn the GO credential.
VU Amsterdam has launched a project to award the first programmes with this GO credential. Similar to the existing ‘Opleidingsschool’ quality label in primary, secondary and vocational education, the GO credential serves as a quality mark. It is granted to programmes that safeguard the quality of workplace guidance. The label provides a guideline for structuring workplace mentoring and teacher development, ensuring both high-quality supervision and space for professional growth of early-career teachers within a department. Learn more about the GO credential.
