Teaching Culture at the University of Basel
Studying at the University of Basel prepares students for both academic and nonacademic careers. Teaching is research-based and, in addition to providing the necessary foundations, equips students with the subject-specific expertise they need to engage critically, independently, and responsibly with knowledge and access to knowledge.
Adapted to the requirements of the bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and postgraduate continuing education levels, teaching at the University of Basel places a strong emphasis on independence, personal contact with fellow students and teaching staff, and the ability to work collaboratively. Not least, it encourages students to look beyond the boundaries of their own discipline. The aim is to help students develop confidence and competence in their subject areas and thereby prepare them for careers in a professional world that is changing at an ever faster pace.
The teaching culture at the University of Basel is characterized by excellent supervision ratios and follows the highest standards in teaching and excellence in research. It is shaped and sustained by many stakeholders: all professors, numerous other teaching staff, and early career researchers. Exchange among students is also a central element.
We support this teaching culture through central units: Educational Development, which also maintains close contact with students, helps teaching staff translate their knowledge into the best possible learning experience for students. Program Development supports the optimal integration of competency goals into curricular structures. The Graduate Center, Continuing Education Office, Student Services, and Legal Services ensure that studies are well organized and legally sound. The Quality Team, in turn, works continuously with the faculties and the Vice President’s Office for Education to evaluate the quality of courses and assessments, while Educational Technologies supports teaching formats as they evolve in response to technological change. All developments are accompanied by committees such as the Teaching Committee, which involves not only faculties and groups, but also students.
In collaboration with the faculties, the central teams ensure that teaching continues to develop, that meaningful approaches are found to opportunities and challenges such as those presented by AI, and that rapid developments are used in the interests of students and their needs.
