ITP Announcement (PDF, 0,5 MB) - an der Potsdam Graduate School

Supplemental Certificate for Early-stage Researchers -
„International Teaching Professionals“
Do you plan an academic career?
Do you want to improve your didactic skills and gather teaching experience?
Would you like to network with other international researchers?
Participate in the „International Teaching Professionals“ program!
The Potsdam Graduate School for the fourth time announces an English language didactic degree as
supplemental qualification for internationally oriented scientists. The program “International
Teaching Professionals“ offers international early-stage researchers the chance to further their
university didactic skills and to network with one another.
Goal of the program: For foreign researchers it is frequently difficult to gather teaching experience
because of language barriers or uncertainties about the customary teaching culture. Within the
“International Teaching Professionals” program, participants experience a close connection between
teaching and research in which they develop their own field of research didactically and
communicate it to the students. The certified teaching competence offers an important long-term
advantage in the future academic career. Along with the acquisition of university didactic
competence, the program additionally aims to improve networking of international scientists.
What the program offers:
Didactic training by didactic experts in English
Mentoring by an experienced university teacher
The forum “ProTeaching” to exchange ideas and contribute to reflection on one’s own teaching
through mutual collegial consultation
The certificate of completion documents the participation in the two-level program
For international PhD students of the University of Potsdam: Financial support to compensate for
additional work load which might arise with program participation
Selection procedure:
The program addresses foreign and German early-stage researchers who want to orient themselves
internationally and are aiming at a career path as university teachers. PhD students as well as
Postdocs from all disciplines of the University of Potsdam and university partner institutes can apply.
In order to successfully take part in the program, participants have to be fluent in English. Please
send your application by e-mail (one PDF file) with a convincing statement of purpose (up to 2 pages,
Arial type face, 10 pt., line spacing 1.3), your tabulated CV, details of your institutional affiliation and
of current financing as well as a brief (half page) description and the status of your research project.
In addition, please send a suggestion for a mentor who will assume coaching of your teaching. PhD
students should send a brief letter of reference from their supervisor, PostDocs from their group
leader. The preliminary confirmation of participation in all parts of the program is to be handed in as
well (see below).
The selection of participants in the program is according to the following criteria:
1. Motivation and engagement expected.
2. Prospects for successful participation in the supplemental qualification.
3. Foreseeable aptitude for the career path of a university teacher.
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Please submit your application compiled as one pdf file by July 15 th , 2013.
Program details
The program admits 10-12 participants per cycle. The participation is free of charge. International
PhD students of the University of Potsdam are offered a six months fellowship of 400 Euro/month in
order to compensate for the additional work load, which might arise with program participation.
Qualification program
Level 1: Development of pedagogical-didactic competence
• Workshop 1: Basics of Teaching and Learning: 29. & 30.08.2013 (1,5 days)
• Workshop 2: E-Teaching: 23. & 24.09.2013 (2 days)
• Workshop 3: Integrated Course Design: 17. & 18.02.2014 (1,5 days)
• Workshop 4: Examining students: 03./04.03.2014 (2 days)
• Workshop 5: Leadership Skills: (participation is optional) in the 1 st term in 2014
• Workshop 6: Reflection: July 2014 (1 day)
The workshops are conducted in English by didactic experts and offer the possibility to systematically
professionalize one’s own teaching activities.
Level 2: Accompanying teaching
The program participants teach a course in their respective research field in the summer semester
2014. Each program participant selects his/her own mentor for the teaching period and may discuss
the planned teaching concept with the mentor. Student exams are conducted by the program
participant in close cooperation with the mentor. The mentor visits the course 1-2 times per
semester and provides feedback. Selected students will take part in the feedback discussions and at
the end of the semester the courses should be evaluated by all students.
At the end of the program, the International Teaching Professionals should reflect on their own
learning process during the program, e.g. how their course designs and the concept as a teacher
changed and how he/she was adapting the didactic knowledge gained in the workshops. In a written
form (4-8 pages) this reflection provides a basis for a sustainable self-understanding process as a
teaching scientist.
The forum „ProTeaching“
The forum will give the program participants the opportunity to exchange ideas with one another
and to mutually instruct each other within the framework of collegial self-counseling. The Potsdam
Graduate School will provide a room for this regular gathering. A didactically experienced teacher will
be present in the forum meetings on request. The mentors may also participate in the forum.
Schedule
Duration of the program: August 2013 – July 2014
Kick-off meeting : August 15 th , 2013; 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Workshops to develop pedagogical-didactic competence: August 2013-July 2014, see schedule above
Conducting one’s own course: Summer Semester 2014
Contact:
Caroline Babbe
Tel: ++49 (0)331 977 1728
pogs@uni-potsdam.de
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