The first step for all BKO candidates is an intake interview with the secretary. You will be contacted by the HR department in the first month of your appointment or earlier, and asked to join an intake interview. During the intake interview, the steps you need to take to obtain the BKO certificate will be explained. 

The first step in the BKO procedure is an intake form, which will be prepared by you and your supervisor (or BKO mentor) within the first two months of your appointment. This plan includes a number of elements: personal information, relevant teaching certificates, information on courses and/or training programme followed in the field of teaching, as well as academic teaching experience and planned courses to be taught in the coming years. This form should be submitted to the secretary, for approval by the BKO committee. 

As part of the BKO certification, lecturers are required to follow at least two training courses on teaching practice. The ICLON Testing and Assessment course is a required course you must take in order to obtain the BKO. You should choose the second course in consultation with your supervisor and institute. The costs of these training courses will be covered by the institute.

The faculty teaching coaches also offer support in compiling the BKO dossiers and observing teaching. There is also an opportunity to take part in peer-review group: coaching & peer review for teachers.     

Based on the approved intake form, the lecturer compiles a BKO portfolio. The BKO committee uses the BKO portfolio to assess applications for the BKO certification. In assessing BKO portfolios, the committee focuses on five elements: a reflective report, extent of teaching experience, diversity in modes of instruction, teaching observation and evaluation, and the ability to develop and teach independently. 

The candidate sends a complete BKO portfolio by mail to the secretary (bko@hum.leidenuniv.nl) as one PDF no later than 10 working days before the next meeting of the BKO committee. 

NB: A new BKO format has been used since February 1, 2022. If you have had an intake interview before February 1, 2022, please contact the secretary by emailing bko@hum.leidenuniv.nl

BKO Portfolio – intake after 1 February 2022

A typical BKO portfolio normally contains the following:
1.    For instructors, lecturers, senior lecturers and professors
a. A self-reflective report by the candidate on his/her teaching activities.
b. Vision on education and teaching. 
c. Reflection on evaluations by students.
d. Plans for future professional development of teaching.
e. A description of 3 different classes or seminars taught at Leiden University (these should not include thesis seminars or supervision), including at least: 
- 1 lecture series developed entirely by the candidate and taught primarily by the candidate.
- 2 seminar series developed and taught by the candidate. One of these should be on the basis of an assignment (format).
f. Assignment: 1 seminar lesson plan.
g. Link to a Brightspace module for 1 course.
h. Brief description of at least 1 case of supervision of a graduate student or a group of graduate students (including a description of the process, the interventions made, the method of feedback on draft versions of the thesis). If applicable, with the addition of testimonials from one or more graduate students (professors only).  
i. The evaluations by students of the courses taught by the candidate and mentioned in e.
j. 2 observation reports (preferably at the start and end of the BKO track) of a lecture by a teaching coach and the supervisor or another experienced instructor. The observation report should be sent directly to the secretary.
k. 2 BKO ICLON training courses: a certificate showing completion of the ICLON training course in evaluating tests and the second course in the area of teaching skills.  
l. If applicable, the Basic Qualification in English Language Skills certificate (BKE)*
m. Other relevant certificates relating to teaching.

2. For staff members with an instructor profile level 4, including teaching assistants and language instructors 
a. A self-reflective report by the candidate on his/her teaching activities.
b. Vision on education and teaching
c. Reflection on evaluations by students
d. Plans for future professional development of teaching skills – relating to plans for further development..
e. A description of 3 different classes or seminars taught at Leiden University (these should not include thesis seminars or supervision), 1 of which should be based on an assignment format. 
f. Assignment: 1 seminar lesson plan.
g. Link to a Brightspace module of 1 course.
h. The evaluations by students of the courses taught by the candidate and mentioned in e.
i. 2 observation reports (preferably at the start and end of the BKO track) of a lecture by a teaching coach and the supervisor or another experienced instructor. The observation report should be sent directly to the secretary.
j. 2 BKO ICLON training courses: the certificate showing completion of the ICLON training course in evaluating tests and the second course in the area of teaching skills.  
k. If applicable, the Basic Qualification in English Language Skills certificate (BKE)*
l. Other relevant certificates relating to teaching. 

*Basic Qualification in English Language Skills
In accordance with the final attainment objectives of the University Teaching Qualification, lecturers who teach or are planning to teach in English are required to be proficient in English at level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The Basic Qualification in English Language Skills test is carried out by the Academic Language Centre: see this page for more information.

In principle, all lecturers teaching in English are required to possess a Basic Qualification in English Language Skills certificate, unless it is apparent from their passport or CV that they already possess this level. The BKO committee will assess this aspect based on the BKO portfolio. 

Skills teachers (‘Vaardigheidsdocenten’)

Staff members with the UFO profile ‘vaardigheidsdocent’ (skills teacher) (for example at the Academic Language Centre) who teach both regular language courses and curricular courses, also have the opportunity to pursue a BKO. They are expected to meet the criteria for level 4 instructors. Course evaluations of courses taught by these candidates consist of questionnaires on a five-point scale. 

PhD students

In view of the limited time available to PhD students for acquiring teaching experience within their PhD appointment, it is not possible for PhD students to complete a full BKO track, except in exceptional cases. In the context of the PhD career policy, the Faculty Board considers it important that PhD students also be given the opportunity to develop their teaching skills. For this reason, the Executive Board has decided to offer PhD students the opportunity to complete a teaching certificate that covers some elements of the BKO final attainment objectives. PhD students who have completed this certificate are offered recognition that they have partially completed the BKO track. As soon as we have more information on this matter, we will publish it here.

On the basis of the BKO portfolio submitted by the candidate, the BKO committee assesses whether the candidate fulfils the BKO final attainment objectives. If the assessment committee considers the BKO portfolio to be insufficient, they will indicate those areas where the candidate still has to improve, and will keep the portfolio until the candidate fulfils the criteria in question. In case of a positive assessment, the Committee will award the candidate a BKO certificate. This certificate is signed by the Vice-Rector Magnificus and the Dean of the Faculty. 

In addition, the Assessment Committee also evaluates BKO portfolios of candidates who teach at the Faculty of Humanities but are appointed elsewhere, on condition that these candidates have not already obtained a BKO certificate from another organisation. 

Exemptions

Based on a comparison between an international teaching certificate with final attainment objectives equivalent to those of the BKO, and following assessment of the candidate’s action plan, the BKO committee determines how extensive the candidate’s BKO portfolio should be and what courses the candidate may have to follow. In any case, the candidate will always require teaching experience and evaluations from courses taught at Leiden University in order to qualify for a BKO certificate.