“It is a fun, new challenge,” she says. “I want to bridge the gap between the Teaching and Learning Centre and the teachers: showcasing what the TLC does and taking stock of what is on teachers’ minds.” To do this, she will, for instance, consult the programme directors to see what they expect from the teacher ambassador, and to get an idea of what themes they consider important. Furthermore, Janne supervises a group of teachers. They are also a valuable source of information to her. These teachers spend a lot of time in front of the class and share the challenges they encounter.
Themes
Teachers’ wellbeing and working pressure already were and continue to be important themes for Janne. “How can we make sure that our teachers feel valued and that we continue to provide high-quality education, even when the pressure increases due to factors such as the budget cuts?” This also connects to the university’s larger initiative of recognition and rewards.
Janne is furthermore interested in the rise of generative AI in education. This brings about questions such as: what do we want to teach students, how do we teach them to use this technology, what skills are essential and how do you want them to leave here? She notices that colleagues handle this differently, which makes it even more interesting to start the discussion.
It is also interesting to know which themes are relevant to other faculties. Therefore, there is regular contact with the other teacher ambassadors. Some themes are specific, but other themes concern everyone. There are various occasions at which the ambassadors can exchange experiences and that is very informative.
Ambassador’s goal
The function of ambassador is usually held for a period of two years. In this period, Janne hopes to create an even stronger connection between the Teaching and Learning Centre and the Faculty of Social Sciences. She hopes that teachers will be able to find the Teaching and Learning Centre as a supportive partner and a source of inspiration for their education. Janne adds that she will be completely satisfied when more steps have been taken in recognising and rewarding education.