Download the full report below or read it here
Today, SFS is releasing a report on the higher education pedagogical training of doctoral students. The report is based on a survey that SFS conducted to find out how universities comply with the recommendations of the Swedish University and Higher Education Association (SUHF) on the higher education pedagogical training of doctoral students. The aim is that all doctoral students should be offered higher education pedagogical training within the framework of their doctoral education and that all doctoral students who teach should undergo such training. The survey was completed by 69 respondents at 21 different universities. Those who responded to the survey are those responsible for doctoral education, higher education pedagogical units and doctoral student representatives.
What is the way forward?
In the SFS also presents a number of suggestions on how higher education institutions, SUHF and the Government can contribute to improving higher education teaching and learning programmes for doctoral students. These suggestions are listed below.
Recommendations to higher education institutions
The universities should first and foremost ensure that they follow SUHF's recommendations. They can also
- Review the percentage of doctoral students at the university who take a course in higher education pedagogy during their doctoral education.
- Adapt the content of higher education teaching courses based on the needs/demand of doctoral students.
- Increase the flexibility and number of course opportunities for higher education teaching programs.
- Ensure that higher education teaching training is highly valued when recruiting teaching staff.
Recommendations to SUHF
Swedish University and Higher Education Association (SUHF) can supplement the recommendations by specifying how higher education institutions should register higher education teaching courses. Today there is a requirement that the courses should be documented, but it is not clear how. By clarifying what information should be registered, it is possible to obtain statistics that enable comparisons between higher education institutions and comparisons over time.
Recommendations for The government
The government can primarily support the development of higher education teaching programmes by implementing the University Chancellor's Office's (UKÄ) recommendation to give the Swedish Council for Universities (UHR) a promotion mission for higher education teaching development, and to allocate eligible project funds for such development work. In order for this to be the case for doctoral programmes, it is important to specify that part of the mission should aim to promote the development of doctoral students' higher education teaching training.