Education planning and administration handbook - Chapter 4

Teachers and examiners

4.1 Starting points
4.2 Educational development
4.3 University teacher with merit-based salary increment ('Distinguished University Teacher')
4.4 Degree-awarding powers at department level
4.5 Examiners
4.6 Competence requirements for examiners
4.7 Change of examiner
4.8 Teacher copyright
4.9 Staff liability issues

Shortcuts to other parts of the handbook

4.1 Starting points

Important concepts

Teachers

SLU has the following teacher categories (SLU appointment procedures):

• professor
• visiting professor
• adjunct professor
• senior lecturer
• associate senior lecturer
• adjunct lecturer
• lecturer
• adjunct senior lecturer.

However, in everyday speech, the term teacher is often used to describe all teaching staff, including those who do not belong to any of the above categories.

Examiner

See Section 4.5 Examiners.

Course coordinator

The course coordinator is the teacher or other SLU employee who is operationally responsible for the implementation of the course. For contracted courses, the course coordinator can be a teacher or other employee from another higher education institution. The course coordinator and examiner can be the same person.

Policy

SLU’s vision, objectives and strategy to attract, recruit and maintain teaching expertise is described in other governing documents. Among other things, see the SLU strategies and strategic direction documents.

Rules

Rules concerning employment at SLU can be found in other governing documents. Among other things, see the appointments procedure at SLU.

Who is responsible for what?

The faculty boards plan teaching appointments to give courses and programmes the prerequisites for quality based on an academic or artistic footing and on proven experience.

The responsible department must ensure that students have access to contact information for

• the course coordinator (on the course page)
• the examiner (on the course page)
• the head of department (on the department page) and
• the department director of studies (or equivalent) (on the department web).

The faculty offices are responsible to ensure that contact information for programme directors of studies can be found on the student web programme pages.

Links

• Appointment procedures for teachers at SLU
• Strategies and strategic direction documents
• My employment

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4.2 Educational development

Policy

Courses and programmes must, in addition to high scientific quality requirements, also meet teaching quality requirements. SLU places great importance on teaching expertise when recruiting and promoting teachers. There must be opportunities for educational professional development as this contributes to new approaches to teaching and course development at both undergraduate and Master's level.

SLU rules

The appointment procedures at SLU regulate the competence requirements for various types of employment.

Who is responsible for what?

The Educational Development Unit (EPU) at the Division of Educational Affairs works to promote higher education development at SLU. The EPU is responsible for, among other things, the university’s qualifying courses in teaching and learning in higher education, and also offers consultation in higher education pedagogy for teachers and supervisors.

Links

Unit for Educational Development (EPU)

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4.3 Distinguished university teacher

Important concepts

The title of distinguished university teacher is an opportunity for SLU to reward and recognise particularly skilled and pedagogically aware teachers. Teachers awarded this title are expected to take an active part in quality enhancement for their subject field and the university as a whole.

Policy

This title enables SLU to reward and recognise skilled and pedagogically aware teachers. Teachers awarded this title are expected to take an active part in quality enhancement for their subject field and the university as a whole.

SLU rules

The vice-chancellor decides on specific rules and instructions regarding the appointment of distinguished teachers. Those eligible to be appointed distinguished university teacher are teachers employed at SLU for an indefinite period and belonging to one of the categories specified in Appointment procedures for teachers at SLU, as well as heads of research

To be appointed distinguished teacher at SLU, the applicant must have broad teaching expertise. Candidates must have expertise within the following five knowledge areas:

• teaching expertise

• scholarly and development-oriented approach to pedagogy

• collaboration with colleagues and leadership in teaching and learning

• holistic perspective and collaboration both within the university and with the rest of society

• critical engagement with the subject.

Who is responsible for what?

The Board for the Appointment of Distinguished University Teachers (Nex) manages calls and applications regarding the title.

Instructions

More information and the procedure for applying is available by following the link below.

Links

Unit for Educational Development (EPU)

Distinguished university teacher

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4.4 Degree-awarding powers at department level

Important concepts

Subject

Courses at first- and second-cycle level at SLU are among other things classified according to the subject content. SLU subjects are listed in Annex 3a: First-cycle and second-cycle subjects at SLU.

Main field of study

Some subjects are main fields of study and act as a basis for general qualifications. Main fields of study at SLU are also listed in Annex 3b: Main fields of study with subject descriptions.

SLU rules

In order for a department to have the right to assess first-cycle students within one of SLU’s main fields of study, it must have teachers with a doctorate employed for an indefinite period and who have relevant subject knowledge and/or researchers employed for an indefinite period with docent expertise within a relevant field.

In order for a department to assess students at second-cycle level within one of SLU’s main fields of study, it must employ at least one professor with relevant subject knowledge.

In order for a department to assess students studying subjects other than SLU’s main fields of study, it must employ at least one teacher within a relevant subject area.

In order for a department to assess students taking courses belonging to two main fields of study or subjects (double-classed courses), the department must have degree-awarding powers within both main fields of study/subjects. Otherwise, another department that has the power to award degrees in the other main field of study or subject must award the degree together with the responsible department. The co-responsible department must be listed in the course syllabus.

For contracted courses from another higher education institution, the competence requirements from that institution apply to the examiner.

The responsible faculty can decide to grant time-limited exemptions regarding the right to award degrees to a department in relation to a subject or main field of study.

Who is responsible for what?

Each faculty must define which of SLU’s main fields of study that the faculty departments and any units are allowed to assess. This must also be done for subjects that do not constitute main fields of study at SLU.

The faculty board decides which bodies within the faculty organisation will decide on each department’s right to award degrees.

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4.5 Examiners

Important concepts

The examiner grades student performance within a course.

Grading criteria connect grades to levels of meeting a course’s intended learning outcomes. A pass grade means that the student has met the objectives in the course syllabus.

National regulations

“Unless otherwise provided by the higher education institution, a grade shall be awarded on completion of a course. [− − −] The grade shall be determined by a teacher specifically nominated by the higher education institution (the examiner).”

“The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences may also appoint someone who does not hold a teaching post to act as examiner in first, second and third-cycle courses and study programmes.”

SLU rules

As a rule, each course must have one examiner. Information about the examiner for individual courses must be available on the course page no later than when the course begins.

There are specific rules for independent projects. See Chapter 9. Independent projects (degree projects).

For contracted courses or other forms of cooperation with another higher education institution, the examiner can be employed by the other institution. In those cases, the rules at the higher education institution in question apply to the examiner.

Who is responsible for what?

The head of department at the responsible department appoints examiners. See 4.4 Degree-awarding powers at department level, 4.6 Competence requirements for examiners and 4.7 Change of examiner.

The faculties must document and follow up examiners for each course.

The responsible department must ensure that the examiner is listed on the course page no later than when the course begins.

Examiners

• are responsible to ensure that course content and level follow the established course syllabus;
• establish grading criteria (see Section 7.1 Early course information);
• are responsible for assessing student performance;
• decide grades by authorising results in Ladok.

Other teachers may take part in the examination by co-grading in accordance with the examiner’s instructions, but it is the examiner who is ultimately responsible and makes the grading decision. There are specific rules for independent projects. See Chapter 9. Independent projects (degree projects).

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4.6 Competence requirements for examiners

SLU rules

First-cycle level

Examiners at first-cycle level:

• have (at least) a Degree of Master within a relevant field, or a professional qualification at second-cycle level within a relevant field;
• are employed at the responsible or jointly responsible department;
• have taken a course on examination and grade assessment, and
• meet one of the options below (1a, 1b or 2).

Second–cycle level

Examiners at second-cycle level:

• have (at least) a Degree of Doctor within a relevant field;
• are employed at the responsible or jointly responsible department;
• have taken a course on examination and grade assessment, and
• meet one of the options below.

Option 1a

In accordance with SLU’s current appointment procedures, the person has a teaching post as one of the following:

• professor, visiting professor, adjunct professor or
• senior lecturer, associate senior lecturer, adjunct senior lecturer
• adjunct lecturer, adjunct senior lecturer.

Option 1b

In accordance with SLU’s previous appointment procedures, the person has a teaching post as one of the following:

• professor, adjunct professor or
• senior lecturer, adjunct senior lecturer
• lecturer, adjunct lecturer
• research associate
• part-time or visiting lecturer.

Option 2

The person does not have a teaching post but does have a

• doctoral degree
• an indefinite period employment which requires a doctoral degree or corresponding expertise
• relevant educational expertise which correspond to the requirements to be employed as a senior lecturer.

Exemptions

Time-limited exemptions concerning the right to award degrees for a course or an independent project may be granted by the responsible faculty.

Equivalence assessment

For courses with considerable elements of occupational skills training, an equivalence assessment may be made of the student’s relevant professional experience. An equivalence assessment may also be made of artistic development work for courses within the artistic field.

Who is responsible for what?

The faculty board decides which faculty body that will decide on exemptions for examiners.

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4.7 Change of examiner

National regulations

“A student who has taken two examinations in a course or a part of a course without obtaining a pass grade is entitled to the nomination of another examiner, unless there are special reasons to the contrary.”

This request can also concern nominating another teacher to take part of the assessment without acting as examiner. Special reasons speaking against the student’s request can for example be that there are no examiners or teachers with the right qualifications.

Who is responsible for what?

The head of department decides whether to change examiner or participating teacher for individual students.

Instructions

The student must submit a written request to change examiner (or co-grading teacher) to the head of department or department director of studies (or equivalent) at the responsible department.

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4.8 Teacher copyright

About copyright

Copyright refers to the right to a work, such as a text, image or computer program, which meets the requirements of originality and autonomy (known as the 'level of originality'). The author's right arises automatically at the moment the work is created. No registration or similar procedure is required. Copyright means that the author has sole control over their work: to produce and distribute copies of it.

Copyright to works created in the context of the university's teaching and research belongs to the author (with the exception of copyright to computer programss, which belongs to SLU). Both students and staff at SLU can be authors (i.e. have copyright) of literary and artistic works.

Reproducing or modifying other people's texts, tables, pictures and other illustrations may be an infringement of copyright. This applies even if quotes are marked and the source is indicated.

SLU rules

Teaching materials

Teachers who produce teaching material as part of their employment have copyright to that material, but SLU has a far-reaching right of use to it (see the policy for intellectual property rights regarding the teacher exemption, Chapter 4).

Students are not allowed to publish or spread teaching materials without the teacher’s permission.

Teaching

Audio/video recordings or photography relating to teaching is only allowed if this is stated in the course syllabus, or following agreement with the students in question. This applies to all types of teaching, including excursions, study visits, etc. It is not allowed to publish or spread photos, film or audio relating to teaching through e.g. social media without the teacher’s permission.

Students with disabilities may receive learning support, which can include, for example, audio or video recordings relating to teaching. See 3.5 Study with a disability. The recordings are only meant for personal use, and they too require the teacher’s permission.

Links

Intellectual property rights policy

Legal recommendations for online teaching

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4.9 Staff liability issues

National regulations

If an employee does not fulfil their obligations, serious cases can be reviewed by the SLU staff disciplinary board. For professors, the review is conducted by the Government Disciplinary Board for Higher Officials. A staff disciplinary board is expected to examine questions relating to:

• dismissal from employment on the grounds of personal circumstances
• disciplinary liability in case of misconduct (warning or salary deduction)
• notifications of legal action
• suspension.

Rules and procedures for the staff disciplinary board

The rules and procedures set out, among other things, how the board is composed, how a case is initiated and how a meeting is organised.

Instructions

If a student wants to make a complaint about a staff member at SLU, they must primarily turn to the head of department where the person in question is employed. Also see Section 3.15 Complaints procedure. Students can also turn to their student union, which can provide some support on these issues.

Links

Rules and procedures for the staff disciplinary board, 27 November 2024, SLU.ua.2024.1.1.1-3618 (only in Swedish)

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