Are you starting 2025 with New Year’s resolutions to professionalize yourself as a teacher? The Teaching Times is here to help by exploring the many facets of teaching qualifications. In this edition, we speak with Angelique Assink, coordinator of the Educational Professional Development (EPD) programs, to better understand what the University of Twente has to offer.
“It’s hard to describe a typical day in my role because there are so many different activities and levels I work on,” Assink explains as we discuss the intricacies of EPD. “One day, I’m collaborating with national organisations like UNL or 4TU; the next, I’m involved with the enrollment or assessment of individual teachers within UT.” Her role connects the many dimensions of the UT’s teacher professionalization, ensuring its continuity and quality. “With the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ), it’s especially important to stay connected both within and outside the university, and to always keep the bigger picture in mind.”
Life Beyond the UTQ
The UTQ remains a cornerstone of the Centre of Expertise in Learning & Teaching (CELT), and Assink played a key role in its recent redesign, launched in September 2023. “Even though it’s only been in use for a little over a year, I’m incredibly proud of what the team has achieved,” she reflects. “I am happy to have lead the project and facilitate the strategic discussions, but most importantly I value how we as a team accomplished it.”
So, what comes next after the UTQ? CELT also offers advanced professionalization tracks, including the Senior University Teaching Qualification (SUTQ), the Senior University Examination Qualification (SUEQ), and the Educational Leadership Programme (ELP) for those in leadership roles. For PhDs, tailored programs like Taste of Teaching provide useful insights and skills.
Assink is particularly enthusiastic about the upcoming relaunch of the BKS, or Beroepskwalificatie Studieadviseurs (Professional Qualification for Study Advisors). “We were the first Dutch university to introduce this program back in 2013, and it really highlights the crucial and diverse role study advisors play in the academic experience,” she explains. The updated BKS program will offer renewed support and training for study advisors in their complex roles, with pilot sessions planned for later in 2025.
Hip to Stay Square
With such a variety of options, it can feel overwhelming to stay informed. How can educators keep up with the ever-changing trends, from Artificial Intelligence to Blended Learning and Challenge-Based Learning? “This might sound surprising, but I don’t think it’s realistic to chase every new trend,” Assink says. Instead, she stresses the importance of a solid foundation. “The key is to anchor your teaching in the fundamentals of cognitive science and psychology. New methods and technologies can be transformative, but only if they’re grounded in sound educational principles.”
CELT aligns its professionalization offerings with the UT’s Talent Development Map and is shifting its focus toward lifelong learning strategies. “We’re in the process of moving our masterclasses to embedding them within more flexible and continuous learning trajectories,” Assink explains. These initiatives also tie into broader efforts like CELT’s participation in the NPuls Centre for Teaching & Learning (CTL) project, aimed at modernising educational development.
Me and UTQ Down by the Schoolyard
For those interested in exploring these opportunities, where should they start? “The CELT website and its course finder are great places to begin,” Assink suggests. “Beyond CELT, the Centre for Training and Development (CTD) offers additional relevant programs, and the GoodHabitz platform provides accessible online resources.” She also encourages educators to connect with colleagues who have completed professional tracks. “Learning from their experiences can be incredibly valuable and inspiring.”
Whatever your professional development goals for 2025, The Teaching Times wishes you success and looks forward to featuring your stories in future editions.
