Seminar lecturer positions: opportunities for talent and the faculty

Young Talent Best Practice – Erasmus University Rotterdam

The study programme in public administration held by the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam offers Master’s graduates a position as seminar lecturer. Apart from teaching, alumni also perform research as seminar lecturers. The university thus offers young talent the opportunity to pursue a career in science. This best practice programme also serves as a source of new faculty lecturers.

Talent scouting already occurs during the study programme and talented individuals are approached for student assistant positions. These positions enable students to gain experience in scientific research. If both parties are enthusiastic, Master’s graduates are offered a seminar lecturer position.

Why was this best practice programme launched?

Following a review of the Bachelor’s degree programme students now work in smaller groups more often, which means that more lecturers are required. Moreover, the study programme in public administration has a limited number of available doctoral positions. A seminar lecturer position can serve to bridge the gap if a doctoral position is not available immediately.
In day-to-day practice we are now seeing a large number of seminar lecturers transferring to a doctoral position. This partially concerns students who were not immediately planning to pursue a doctorate, but who were keen to do so based on a seminar lecturer position.

What are the future plans?

Three people were again appointed in September 2009.

Why is it important to invest in young talent?

Investing in young talent means that you are investing in science. Students in public administration do not automatically aim to pursue a career in science. Working as seminar lecturers enables them to become seriously acquainted with science. The university concurrently invests in the quality of education because more lecturers coach Bachelor’s students.

Whom and what do you need for the programme?

How is this best practice programme financed?

Seminar lecturers receive a salary, which is as financed as follows:
1. A shift from lectures to seminars, which require less, but more expensive staff.
2. The transition to teaching smaller groups, which has resulted in higher returns, and thus revenues.

Who coordinates the programme?

The study programme in public administration has a separate management for the Bachelor’s degree programme, who coordinates the recruitment and deployment of the relevant individuals.

What other parties in the organisation are required to achieve success?

An active research group: incorporating the lecturers involved in an active research group will also do justice to the research component of their position.

How is the Best Practice Seminar Lecturer Programme organised?

• Talent scouting during the study programme
• Offer talented students research experience as a student assistant
• Appoint talented students to seminar lecturer positions upon graduation
• Offer development opportunities, such as teaching skills training, if desired the Basic Teaching Qualification track (BKO), and participation in conferences in the Netherlands and abroad
• Offer career guidance for a possible doctoral position
• Make clear agreements: if a doctoral position is not obtained after two years, this means the end of the appointment