Dutch universities have decided to mutually recognize the Senior Teaching Qualification (STQ). With this step, they further strengthen the quality of and collaboration within academic education.
This development builds on the successful national recognition of the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ), which since 2008 has contributed to the continued professionalization of lecturers in higher education.
National framework strengthens quality and collaboration
The Senior Teaching Qualification (STQ) is aimed at experienced lecturers who play a leading role in improving and innovating education at curriculum and programme level. With the newly agreed mutual recognition, senior lecturers who obtain the qualification at one university will no longer need to be requalified at another institution. This enhances the mobility of educational professionals and encourages the exchange of expertise between universities.
The universities have jointly developed a framework and a declaration outlining the requirements a STQ must meet. To this end, they compared all existing STQ programmes and determined a shared set of standards. Within this framework, universities retain the freedom to shape their own STQ programme. This ensures both diversity and quality assurance. Universities that are still developing an STQ can align with the framework so that their qualification will also be recognized in the future.
The mutual recognition also aligns well with the programme Recognition and Rewards, which focuses on career development, professional growth, and recognizing the diverse contributions of education professionals.
What this means for VU Amsterdam
For VU lecturers, this mutual recognition means that once they obtain their STQ, it will automatically be recognized by all Dutch universities. This strengthens their career prospects and underscores the quality of lecturer professionalization at VU Amsterdam.
Rector Magnificus Jeroen Geurts:
“I see this national recognition as a powerful signal: education matters. And especially the people who carry it. The fact that the STQ is now widely recognised confirms our commitment to visibly valuing education professionals for their expertise, leadership and dedication. This is exactly what Recognition and Rewards stands for. It is energising to see that we are moving forward together in this and that this movement is becoming ever more firmly embedded in our academic culture.”
Karen van Oyen, programme manager at the VU Centre for Teaching and Learning:
“This is fantastic news. With this mutual recognition, universities clearly demonstrate that they value the continuous development of lecturer quality, educational quality, educational innovation, and the quality of educational leadership.”
Read the declaration on mutual recognition and the accompanying framework (in Dutch). The declaration and framework will be evaluated after approximately two years and amended where necessary.