Questions and Answers about Higher Education Pedagogy

What types of higher education pedagogy courses are available?

At University West, primarily qualification-granting courses in higher education pedagogy are offered. These courses are aimed at both new and experienced teachers who want to develop their pedagogical skills.

Qualification-granting higher education pedagogy refers to training of at least 10 weeks (<15 credits), which all teaching staff at Swedish universities must complete in order to teach within academia. This training must be completed no later than two years after you begin your position at University West.

For teachers who wish to deepen their knowledge and further develop their pedagogical role, there are courses in extended teaching competence. At University West, one such course is offered: a doctoral supervision course.

All higher education pedagogy courses are offered at an advanced level but with varying eligibility requirements. To plan your qualification-granting education or get more information about other courses and activities, contact the higher education pedagogy unit via akademus@hv.se.

All courses are taught in Swedish. For our English-speaking staff, there is an opportunity to take higher education pedagogy courses at the PIL unit at the University of Gothenburg. More information can be found here.

What are the entry requirements?

You need a bachelor's degree or equivalent since the courses are at an advanced level. It is not required to have studied pedagogy or have teaching experience, but it may be beneficial to have started teaching, as the courses are based on practical teaching situations.

How do I apply for the courses?

Application is done via a form on our website. Information about registration is available for each course. You can find our full course offerings here.

Do I need to talk to my manager before registering?

Yes, you should coordinate your participation with your immediate manager so that you can plan the required time. The courses are usually offered at a quarter-time pace, meaning you need to allocate time for studies and course activities.

Can I take the courses during working hours?

Yes, in most cases. As a teacher, you have between 10–20% of your annual working hours allocated for professional development, depending on your position. Talk to your department head about how this can be planned within your role.

Can I take multiple courses at the same time?

We recommend taking one course at a time to avoid a high workload. The courses are offered at a maximum of 25% study pace.

Do I have to take the courses in a specific order?

No, but some courses require you to have completed the basic course first to be eligible. We recommend starting with the basic course to establish a solid foundation.

Is attendance mandatory?

Most course meetings are mandatory. Each course page specifies which meetings are not required. We recommend prioritizing your participation and not scheduling other activities at the same time. A preliminary schedule is available on the course website.

Why do I need to take higher education pedagogy?

To be qualified to teach in higher education, at least 10 weeks of higher education pedagogy training (<15 credits) is required, according to SUHF’s recommendations. The training develops your pedagogical skills and is also important for promotion and salary setting.

Can I take higher education pedagogy courses at another university?

Yes, but the courses must be classified as Qualification-Granting Higher Education Pedagogy to count towards your training. The advantage of studying at University West is that you can network with colleagues from different departments.

I already have teaching experience—do I still need to take higher education pedagogy?

Yes, even experienced university teachers need at least 10 weeks (<15 credits) of higher education pedagogy training. Continuing education is part of lifelong learning and aligns with University West’s profile in Work-Integrated Learning (WIL).

Can I count higher education pedagogy courses from another country?

It depends on the course content and learning objectives. You need to submit a certificate, course syllabus, and a description of the course content for a validation process. Please note that the Swedish academic teaching framework may differ from other countries, making it valuable to still take courses at University West. Contact akademus@hv.se for more information.

I have taken higher education pedagogy courses at another Swedish university. Do I need to take more?

No. According to SUHF’s recommendations (Rek 2016:1), completed higher education pedagogy training at a Swedish university should be recognized by other institutions. However, you are welcome to participate in University West’s higher education pedagogy activities and courses for continued development.