SFS Chairman Jacob Färnert is writing a debate article in the Althingi about the importance of higher education institutions taking higher education seriously and not compromising on the pedagogical skills of university and college teachers, as this is an important aspect of educational quality.
The performance-based resource allocation system and the state productivity deduction that exists in higher education certainly lead to eroded funding and poorer conditions for teachers' pedagogical development, which ultimately leads to poorer quality. However, this does not mean that there is no change to be made at the higher education institution and teacher level. Higher education institutions must stop ignoring the requirements for pedagogical skills when hiring and promoting teachers. There also needs to be greater collegial exchange to get a discussion going about what are good teaching methods and how we establish a culture where there is a commitment to education, its quality and pedagogy.
The country's universities and colleges must also be able to look themselves in the mirror. It is time for higher education to be taken seriously, not only by education ministers and politicians, but also by those who are ultimately responsible for it, that is, the rectors and teachers at the country's higher education institutions.
Read the full article at Altinget.se.