Background

Many researchers may want to develop all or part of their professional career in a university. However, those who have trained at research institutions often lack knowledge of how university teaching works. Teaching does not consist only of giving a lecture to an audience like in a scientific meeting, but it also implies other goals and tasks that may be unknown to pure researchers. The Teaching Mentorship Programme (TMP) was created to fill this gap in the training of researchers who are interested in teaching at the university.

The main objective of the TMP is to equip young postdoctoral researchers at the PRBB with the basic knowledge and skills needed to teach at the university level. This will enhance their career prospects at academic institutions worldwide.

The TMP will improve mentees’ skills on the following aspects of teaching:

• Identification of the essential knowledge to be transmitted to students.
• Elaboration of curricula and syllabi for specific subjects.
• Definition of educational objectives and professional competences.
• Identification of the relevant literature and information resources for students.
• Knowledge of teaching methods: lectures, seminars, problem-based learning, laboratory practicals, etc.
• Student evaluation and assessment.
• The value of teaching in scientific research.
• Innovation in higher education.

Goals

• To provide a training programme aimed at postdoctoral researchers seeking to develop teaching skills in health and life sciences.
• To foster a new generation of researchers with experience in teaching.
• To share resources, assistance, and know-how with this new generation of educators.
• To forge a novel cooperative link between UPF and the other research institutions at the PRBB.

The role of the mentor

Mentors are coordinators of the subjects in which mentees carry out their training. As members of the faculty at the university, they will provide mentees with professional and personal guidance in the preparation and execution of their teaching tasks.

Mentors will assume their roles as part of their teaching responsibilities. He/she will supervise and give support to the mentee, including guidance through activities such as discussions, attending and providing feedback on the mentee’s lectures, etc. The mentor is both a guide and a friendly critic. At the same time, it is very important that the mentor promotes innovative thinking to prepare the next generation of academics.

Mutual expectations, time management and responsibilities will be agreed at the outset of the programme. The mentor will ensure that there are clear objectives to be achieved and a clear plan for achieving them throughout the training.

The participation of the mentees in teaching duties will not have any impact on the teaching capacity of the university, that is: the TMP will not lead to changes in resource allocation.

The mentee as teacher-to-be

Mentees should be postdoctoral researchers seeking to gain teaching experience through supervised hands-on work. The TMP will connect the mentor’s experience with the needs of highly motivated mentees, in order to provide the latter with intellectual guidance and supervision.

The mentee will be responsible for the assigned tasks and aware of their importance for the university. The mentee’s inclusion in teaching tasks will be recognized with an official certificate issued by the UPF as an “Academic Collaborator”.

Application Process

Applications should be sent to your mailbox [email protected]. They will include: 

• the CV with a specific mention of the teaching experience, if any.
• a brief statement of interests suggesting areas of expertise where they could be involved , if possible, specific subjects in which the learner would like to carry out the teaching internship

Academic structure of the TMP

The TMP includes a variety of activities to equip mentees with the basics of learning and teaching at higher education institutions. The core activity is the hands-on work to be performed under the guidance of the mentors. The activities will last one year.

• Teaching practices in the subject, or subjects, determined by the academic tutor.
• Tutorials with the students who have been taught to resolve doubts.
• Other activities specified by the tutor: attendance at conferences, preparation of teaching materials, supervision and correction of exams and assignments…