Exploring Teaching Outside Academia: orientation and reflection

Course schedule

Dates Start time End time Coordinator registrations
app/max
   
September / October 2026 Claudius van de Vijver 4 / 12 Apply

Course description

This introductory course is meant for PhD candidates and postdocs who want to explore and experience the art of teaching and the teaching profession outside academia. Candidates join sessions at WUR as well as do a short internship within an educational institution outside of WUR.

 

Content

The course will intertwine interactive sessions and (peer) review sessions at WUR with a short internship at an educational institution of the participants liking. Participants will be introduced to basic didactic skills and educational design skills, both in active tutorials as well as by observing experienced teachers/trainers working at an educational level of their own choice (for examples; see section target group) at an educational institution in which they do a short internship. Participants will prepare and teach at least two (short) interactive lessons for a group of students at their internship place. he educational level at which the participants did the observation. The course finalizes with a reflective session in which both teaching skills and further development thereof, and future ambitions in becoming a teacher, will be subject of reflection.

The following activities will be addressed during the course: Intake talk, didactic skills theory and practice, educational design,  internship / teaching at a school or polytechnicon, observation days in practice, (peer)review sessions and reflection

NB.

  1. The course is based on the Dutch education system. Hence participants must be fluent in Dutch.
  2. Participants must find a internship location themselves.

 

Learning outcomes

After this course you should be able to:

  • identify the prior knowledge and learning needs of your target group;
  • prepare a class or a training session that fits the learning needs of your target group by using a lesson plan;
  • employ basic didactic principles in your teaching;
  • reflect on your teaching skills;
  • reflect on your ambitions to become a teacher and further develop your teaching skills.

 

Programme

  1. Start: 1 hours intake with those registered (9 June or 6 July)
  2. The course itself consisting of:
    • 3 x 0.5 days training on:
      • Designing of “active” education activity (Date: 29 September 13:00-17:00)
      • Managing the class room, target group analysis (Date: 27 October 13:00-17:00)
      • Scientific and didactital  basis of education elements (Date: 17 November 13:00-17:00)
    • 1.5 days in total for support in peer coaching, feedback and support
    • Participants will have to follow 5-6 days internship in which they must give at least 2 activities/classes. Rest of the time of the internship is spent on observation, reporting and reflection of what is happening, what they experience and what they learn to finally know if teaching outside of academia is their thing or not
    • 1 hour meeting with the course trainer/coach in which they reflect and get feedback from the coach

 

General Information

Target Group: PhD candidates and postdocs
Group size: Max. 20 participants
Language: Dutch
Credit points (ECTS): 2
Self-study hours: 20
Information Claudius van de Vijver, Email: claudius.vandevijver@wur.nl, Phone: (+31)317 485116

 

Course Fee

Reduced fee:

  • PhD and EngD candidates of Wageningen University with an approved Training and Supervision Plan (TSP)
  • Postdocs of Wageningen University, who are registered at one of the WU graduate schools

€ 395

University fee:

  • All other PhD candidates
  • Postdocs of Wageningen University, who are not registered at one of the WU graduate schools
  • Academic staff of Wageningen University, who are registered at one of the WU graduate schools
€ 790
External fee: All other participants € 1500

Fee includes study and training material, and coffee/tea.

Cancellation condition

You may cancel free of charge up to 1 month before the start of the course. After this date you will be charged the University fee (€ 790). Unless:

  • You can find someone to replace you in the course and supply the course coordinator with the name and contact information of your replacement.
    In this case you will only be charged a € 50,- cancellation fee.
  • You (PhDs and postdocs of Wageningen University) have a valid reason to cancel (illness or death in the family 1st or 2nd degree).
    In this case you will be charged the reduced fee and your supervisor/PI must send a mail indicating the reason for cancellation.

Note: If you would like to cancel your registration, ALWAYS inform us. Someone else may still be able to take your spot.