Teaching and learning in higher education, distance (GHPD)

Purpose

The purpose of the course is to strengthen the professional competence as a university teacher and stimulate a reflective approach to teaching and learning.

Course Content

- Knowledge and learning

- Teacher and student roles

- Outcome-based education and assessment

- Teaching and learning activities

- The professional teacher

Intended Learning Outcomes

After completing the course, the participants are expected to be able to:

• examine and develop teaching/supervision based on outcome-based teaching and learning principles.
• reflect on and discuss teaching, learning and assessment in a specific context.
• exhibit a reflected approach to one's own academic teaching, the relationship with the students, and to the values of higher education.

Ways of working

The studies are mainly conducted via the Canvas learning platform and largely involve working on individual written assignments and literature studies, as well as group discussions and peer feedback in small groups. The course consists of five modules plus an examination module. Each module lasts for two weeks, with the first week dedicated to individual studies and the second week to group discussion in Canvas.

The scope of the course

The course is relatively demanding and requires participants to allocate regular time for study throughout the course period. Applicants are therefore advised to discuss their application with their immediate manager in advance, to ensure that the employer is aware of the course workload and can provide reasonable conditions for completing it.

The course corresponds to five weeks of full-time study (200 hours). The number of full work/study weeks is used to describe the course scope, which corresponds to an estimated workload of approximately 12–13 hours per week during the course period.

Target group and admission

The course is aimed at teachers/supervisors with little or no higher education pedagogy training who teach/supervise students in KI’s educational programs. 

Applicants to the course are organized based on a set of prioritization criteria:

• Have teaching or supervision connected to Karolinska Institutet
• Are course responsible teachers/examiners or will shortly take over course responsibility
• Will apply for a docentship within the next 6-12 months
• Have previously applied for the course
• Motivation to participate in the course (specified in the application)

Conditions

Course participants need to have access to a computer with an internet connection and need to be able to participate in asynchronous group discussion via the Canvas learning platform during the second week of each module.

Course literature is purchased by the participant himself/herself.

Language

The course will be conducted in both Swedish and English. Language preference is indicated upon registration and will be used as a basis for creating the small course groups that will study together during the course.

Course dates for autumn term 2026

The course starts on August 20 with preparatory work in the Canvas learning platform.  

It is mandatory to participate at the campus day: 

• September 3 (09:00-16:30)

The purpose of the day is to provide an introduction to the course and to give participants the opportunity to meet their fellow group members and the course facilitator, beginning the process of forming as a group. 

Please note that absence from the campus day may result in participants losing their course place. 

The campus day will be held in English.

Most of the course work is done asynchronously, but we will meet: 

• Online for a webinar on October 2 (time to be determined with the group during the campus day)
• Online for a webinar on November 5 (time to be determined with the group during the campus day)
• Online for a webinar on November 20 (time to be determined with the group during the campus day)
• Online for a concluding feedback webinar December 7 (09:00-13:00)

The course will end on December 14.

Examination

Please see the course syllabus.

Merits

The course is considered meritorious when applying for a docentship (https://staff.ki.se/your-employment/docent) and/or employment as a university lecturer, senior lecturer, or professor at KI. The learning outcomes of the course are designed in accordance with the recommendations of the Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions for qualifying higher education pedagogy training. The course does not provide higher education credits but corresponds to five weeks of higher education studies. Upon completion of the course, a certificate is awarded to the approved participant.

Registration

Registration for the course autumn semester of 2026 will be open between March 16 and April 17.

The course is free of charge for employees at Karolinska Institutet and regional employees who teach/supervise Karolinska Institutet students.