As a new teacher, there is a lot to take in, and it can be difficult to navigate through the abundance of information scattered across various platforms. This Teacher Portal for Pharmacy teachers serves as a good starting point. You can also find information on the intranet page of Utrecht University (UU) and the affiliated intranet page for teachers of the Faculty of Science.

UU has an intranet page with a link to information for new employees. This page will guide you step by step through the portal and provide additional information where needed. Take your time to explore this portal, the links provided, and any other links on the intranet page. It will give you a better understanding of the programmes, the faculty, and UU as a whole, and also help you with any practical questions you may have. The “Working at the University” webpage provides information on employment conditions and professional development.

Solis-id
UU will provide you with a Solis-ID The Solis-ID is a username that, when combined with your password, grants access to all university services at Utrecht University, including the intranet pages, search systems of the University Library, and your email. More information about the Solis-ID can be found on the Information and Technology Services (ITS) website.On the ITS homepage, you will find a link to IT Manuals, which include instructions for setting up university Wi-Fi (Eduroam) on your mobile devices, synchronizing Outlook and your calendar with mobile devices, working from home, and using the U- and O-drives for your data.

Under “Organization,” you will find more information about the organization of UU, the Faculty of Science, and the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. On that page, you will also find contact information for key personnel within the department, such as the educational/programme directors and study advisors.

For any other questions, you can always consult your supervisor, but there is also a mentoring programme available. In the mentoring program, you can choose a teacher with whom you can meet during your initial period to help you navigate through teaching at the univercity. The mentoring program is currently being reestablished, and additional information will follow.

Getting Started as a Teacher
To learn more about the programs in Pharmaceutical Sciences, visit the “Curriculum” section. There, you will find information about the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in Pharmacy, the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences (CPS), and the Master’s programme in Drug Innovation (DI). The “Practical Information” page provides links to practical information relevant to teachers, such as scheduling, course preparation, the timeslot model for education, and the annual planning. For a list of contact points within education, refer to the “Contact” page.

To support starting teachers, Utrecht University has launched “Start to Teach,” a new program for UU employees who are beginning their teaching careers. The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences also offers an annual Basic Teaching Skills course for starting teachers and teachers/PhD candidates/postdocs with little teaching experience. Information about this programme and opportunities for registration will be provided via email.

Utrecht University has a qualification system for teachers. All teachers are expected to obtain a Univercity Teaching Qualification (UTQ). All the necessary information and the mandatory UTQ course can be found under “Teacher Development – UTQ and STQ.” Before pursuing your UTQ, make sure to contact your supervisor. If you have specific questions about the UTQ, such as the relevance of previous teaching experiences, you can reach out to the secretary of the faculty’s UTQ/STQ committee, Susannah Standing, via science.bko.sko@uu.nl. Through this contact, you can also register for the UTQ programme.

For your further development as a teacher, you can find more information under Courses at Utrecht University. It is highly recommended to enroll in the Teaching Academy Utrecht University (TAUU). TAUU is an initiative by and for teachers, and they regularly organize (free) meetings and workshops. The Centre for Academic Teaching (CAT) also organizes lectures and workshops on a regular basis (see “Support” as well). Both the TAUU and CAT websites provide an agenda with educational events, workshops, and lectures.
Under Support, you will find various other organizations and opportunities for your development as a teacher, such as recommended books, websites, and literature.
Teaching Quality and Organization includes important information about assessment and examination, as well as the policies and organization of Utrecht University, the Faculty of Science, and the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

We hope that with this portal and the provided links, you will be able to navigate your way as a teacher. If the portal is unclear or if you feel that certain components are missing or should be added, please contact the secretariat of the Educational Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences.