Faculty

DIS faculty are hired after a rigorous selection process. A comprehensive faculty development and training program, as well as a quality control system, ensure DIS faculty have the pedagogical and intercultural qualifications to provide high standard instruction. Instructors develop their courses on an ongoing basis, incorporating student feedback for continuous improvement. DIS faculty also contribute actively to curriculum development.

Who are DIS faculty?

The majority of the faculty at DIS are hired as part-time instructors, whilst holding permanent jobs in academia, government, the public sector and the professions. They “teach what they do”, adding a unique real-life perspective to the classroom theory. All have final university degrees qualifying them to teach at Danish universities. Some staff members also teach courses, and a few faculty are employed on a more permanent basis, teaching several courses and participating in the programming of study tours and other academic activities. Altogether, some 120 faculty teachabout 150 courses. For a list of all faculty members, including their biographies, see the faculty page.

Curriculum Quality & Development

DIS places a heavy emphasis on the quality of teaching at the institution. For this reason, a number of measures are taken to constantly develop the pedagogical skills of the DIS faculty. These include supervision and observation in the classroom intended to support faculty through feedback and dialogue about teaching styles, pedagogical ideas, best practices, etc.

Faculty Seminars (FS)

Faculty, academic staff and other relevant administrative staff are invited to participate in the Faculty Seminar. The Faculty Seminar is offered as faculty development and training event. The Faculty Seminar takes place every second spring semester, and it is usually held outside of Copenhagen over the course of a weekend. The seminar focuses on intercultural and general pedagogies and didactics and on topics related to teaching policies and interdisciplinary issues that are relevant for the DIS faculty. The Faculty Seminar is a forum for collegial dialogue and social interaction within and across the various DIS programs.

The Danish Educators’ Workshop (DEW)

Every fall semester, DIS invites some 25 faculty members to participate in a Danish Educators’ Workshop at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Teaching and Learning Services for training in modern teaching techniques focusing on student learning outcomes. The Danish Educators’ Workshop (DEW) is offered as professional development and supplementary training for DIS faculty members, but by invitation only.

Introduction Seminar for New Faculty Members (ISNL)

Before the beginning of a semester, all newly employed faculty attend an introductory seminar for new instructors, usually over the course of two afternoons and early evenings. Participation is mandatory for newly employed faculty members.