The Faculty of Medicine has a dedicated strategy to contribute to the best possible learning conditions for the students. Competence building of teaching staff is done through courses, seminars and prepared guidelines under the auspices of the Unit for Learning.

Teaching experience is now given greater importance when evaluating candidates for permanent scientific positions. What was previously called “basic pedagogical competence” has now been renamed “basic educational competence”; the content of which is summarized in national guidelines. At UiB, educational basic competence is normally achieved by completing a program for university pedagogics equivalent to 20 credits, but it is also possible to apply for an equivalent qualification on by the folder alternative.

This option may be relevant for many because education skills are now required before being employed as professor. For associate professorships, you still have 2 years to gain such expertise, but having this in place at the time of application is a strength. It can be problematic for people in, for example in a full hospital position to dedicate time for extensive educational courses. For these then the folder alternative might be a good option. The folder should contain a self-declaration of educational skills and overviews of completed teaching, teaching planning, courses – on the whole, everything that you have done related to teaching can be registered. Unit for learning organizes workshop on educational folder building, University pedagogics for medicine and health sciences, Introductory course for PhD candidates and postdoctoral fellows (PHDPED900), Introduction to medical and health sciences didactics (MEDDID601) and the seminar series Pedagogical supplement which all count in folder. It is therefore important that both UiB and HUS staff involved in teaching take care to register and build their folder. I strongly believe this will also improve teaching for the students!

Have a great weekend when that time comes.

Eystein