The University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) is proof of the didactical competence of lecturers in academic education. The UTQ is recognised by all 14 Dutch universities. You obtain your UTQ via your own faculty.
Target audience
The UTQ is meant for anyone who teaches, designs and evaluates within an academic program. The UTQ is required for tenures longer than 1 year and with a minimum of 0,3 FTE*.
Some educational qualifications obtained abroad are recognised by faculties in line with the UTQ. Talk to your supervisor about whether you might be eligible for this. If so, please contact the UTQ coach at your faculty to discuss what you might still need to do to be granted the UTQ.
*The amount of FTE might differ per faculty
Pilots for a new UTQ track in academic year 2023-2024
In March 2023 the first pilots for the new UTQ track got started. In the new working method, the supervisory track takes place mostly at your own faculty. Lecturers will also get the option (through intermediate completion of competency domains) to work towards obtaining their UTQ step-by-step. In addition, there is a cross-faculty course offering that aligns with the UTQ learning objectives.
Some aspects of the new working method will keep being developed during the pilot phase. That is why a small-scale start was made. Participating lecturers can tangibly work on developing their UTQ competency domains during the pilot.
Participating in the pilots
At the moment it is possible to sign up for the new UTQ track in the academic year 2023-2024.
At the start of the academic year, this will still be in the form of a pilot. The pilot is expected to run until the beginning of 2024. During this period, the new working method is still being developed. That is why the number of lecturers who can participate from September 2023 onward is still limited. This means that signing up for the pilot does not always guarantee participation in the pilot starting in September 2023.
Over the course of the academic year 2023-2024, we hope to gradually increase the participation possibilities, so that all lecturers for who participation is fitting can get started. We also expect to make the final decisions about what the new working method looks like in early 2024.
If you want to get started on obtaining your UTQ during the academic year 2023-2024, you must sign up via one of the links below. Participating in the pilots is available at the five participating faculties.
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies
- Nijmegen School of Management
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Social Sciences
Transitional arrangement
For the next six months, there is a transitional arrangement for lecturers who want to finish obtaining their UTQ this academic year via the old working method. If you have already begun compiling your UTQ portfolio and estimate that you can finish your portfolio before September 2023, you are eligible to participate. The application deadline for the transitional arrangement has now been closed.
Please note: the capacity of the UTQ assessment committee is limited, which means there is no guarantee that you can be assessed immediately after finishing your portfolio. Lecturers for whom obtaining the UTQ is necessary before 1 September (for example because of contractual agreements) are given priority.
Already started on your UTQ portfolio but unable to complete it this academic year?
If you are unable to complete your portfolio this academic year according to the 'old' method, you can take what you've already done with you when continuing in the new working method. You do not have to start over when switching to the new working method and, if you choose to do so, you can sign up to participate in the pilots.
Course offering by Education Support
Want to work on your development in other ways? Education Support offers various courses.
Writing sessions
Have you already started working on your UTQ portfolio in the 'old' working method and would you like to receive guidance while compiling it? Make sure to visit one of the UTQ portfolio writing sessions.