The NRW Certificate
Paderborn University - along with 16 other partner universities - is a member of the network Hochschuldidaktik NRW. This association of centres and offices for academic teaching at North Rhine-Westphalian universities, administrative colleges and a few colleges of art and music offers lecturers and interested young academics the opportunity to participate in the qualification programme "Professional Competence for Academic Teaching".
The aim of the programme is to provide competence-oriented education for teachers at universities while offering further training on all their core tasks in the area of teaching. Thus, among other things, teachers are supported when designing their classes in compliance with learning outcomes or implementing exams that are transparent and fair. Other competencies that teachers need in higher education include student guidance, design of course and programme evaluations, and subject-related or interdisciplinary innovative developments in teaching and learning. The qualification programme promotes these competencies and expands them individually. In addition, it improves professional career opportunities through this well-founded basic qualification and the receipt of a nationally recognised certificate as proof of pedagogical aptitude (cf. Higher Education Act NRW§36 Para. 1).
The NRW certificate comprises 200-230 work units (AE) distributed over three modules: Basic module, extension module and Advanced Module and thus meets national and international standards. The AE are acquired through workshops, peer observation, peer counselling and within the framework of an innovative teaching and research project. The program starts at the beginning of each semester and requires a non-binding initial interview. You will find all the information about the programme on the following pages.
Judith Osthushenrich
Higher Education Development Office
Pohlweg 55
33098 Paderborn