Bridging Borders For Teaching Excellence: A Dutch Delegation Visits TH Köln

The TH Köln and the Center for Academic Development (ZLE) were overjoyed to host this event that highlighted the significance of cross-border learning and collaboration as vital components for enhancing the quality of education.  

“We are thrilled to share some unexpected insights from our recent collaboration between the BUas Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and the TH Köln Center for Academic Development (ZLE)”,

stated two participants after their final group work. 

Strategic Institutional Change on Multiple Levels 

Prof. Dr. Sylvia Heuchemer, President of TH Köln, held an opening speech that highlighted the necessity of strategic and institutional efforts in improving teaching quality. Inspired by her presentation, the participants discussed the importance of leadership to achieve quality improvements within their educational frameworks. Dr. Jorrit Snyder, the President of BUas, highlighted the strong industrial connections and international focus of his university. He also explained key strategic decisions of BUas’s, such as adopting a comprehensive AI strategy across the entire university and integrating AI literacy and sustainability competences into the curriculum of every study program.

Enhancing the Visibility of Teaching Excellence 

A central topic of the visit was the recognition and promotion of teaching excellence. Participants explored various initiatives, such as the Teaching Award, the Day for Excellent Teaching, and the Night of the Scholars, which TH Köln uses to enhance the visibility of outstanding pedagogical practices. These initiatives highlight the institution’s commitment to recognizing and valuing teaching excellence throughout the whole faculty. In the following workshop, the participants discussed possible adaptations of these activities, including their potential impact, at BUas.  

Community Building through Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) 

Livinia Kamphausen, researcher at TH Köln, introduced Boyer's concept of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, expanded by a new perspective that recognized research, teaching, and knowledge transfer as a unit. Prof. Dr. Perry Hobson from BUas shared his international and intercultural experiences with SoTL, emphasizing the benefits of peer review in teaching. Moderated by Susanne Glaeser, who is Head of the Digital Team of ZLE, discussions began with a short digression on circles of experts (Expertisezirkel) which are a fundamental tool in the community-building strategy at TH Köln.  

This led to the understanding that the transformation of educators from practitioners to reflective scholars is a highly personalized process that flourishes in an environment characterized by trust and support, facilitated through collaborative networks. Rianne Wilmer, Program Manager for Community Organisation at BUas, summarized her insights: 

“We realized the value of incorporating the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) method into our practices. This method not only helps inform new employees but also ensures that the message resonates throughout the entire organization. Our goal is to cultivate a reflective culture where we continuously research and improve our teaching methods in a community-based environment.”

Sustainability and Innovation for a Transformative Future 

Building and sustaining teaching excellence was the focus of Dr. Antonia Wunderlich's presentation on the mandatory coaching program for new professors at TH Köln.  

In the next session, innovation took center stage when both BUas and TH Köln compared their AI development strategies. Erwin van Braam from BUas showcased their comprehensive AI program, emphasizing the importance of familiarizing both educators and support staff with AI applications. Meanwhile, TH Köln presented insights from its own generative AI project  – THKI GPT-Lab. This exchange highlighted a shared acknowledgment that innovation, particularly in AI, is crucial for employability and global citizenship in a world transformed by new technology. 

In summary, the visit by the BUas delegation to TH Köln was an energetic exchange of ideas and practices that sparked enthusiasm for ongoing collaboration between the two institutes for teaching and learning. The insights and experiences gained from this program are expected to contribute to the ongoing development of teaching practices at both universities.