The European University Association’s latest podcast series takes you into the world of those who design and organise staff development activities to improve learning and teaching at European universities.
Hosted by Thérèse Zhang from EUA, the ‘Learning to Teach’ podcast comes to you in eight episodes. Get insights from experienced leaders and practitioners from universities across Europe and learn how to plan and implement staff development in teaching.
This podcast series is part of an Erasmus+ funded project called Staff Development for Learning and Teaching at European Universities (STAFF-DEV). The project aims to analyse how staff development and academic assessment are conducted at European higher education institutions (HEIs) and to strengthen institutional capacity and strategies in this regard.
Find out more about STAFF-DEV project here. (https://eua.eu/our-work/projects/eu-funded-projects/staffdev.html)
Making sure that staff development pays off for teachers’ careers
In the seventh episode of this series, EUA’s Thérèse Zhang talks to Bjørn Stensaker, Professor at the Faculty of Educational Science, and former Vice-Rector of Education, at the University of Oslo.
Bjørn reflects on a decade of transformation for staff development in Norwegian higher education and the enabling conditions for recognising teaching within academic careers. He also takes stock of how equipped universities are to meaningfully transform their career tracks to reward the teaching profession.
Guests:
Thérèse Zhang is Deputy Director for Higher Education Policy at the European University Association (EUA).
Bjørn Stensaker is Professor at the Faculty of Educational Science, and a former Vice-Rector for Education, at the University of Oslo, Norway. He is the current President of the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR).
15 Jul 2026
Working across Europe to create meaningful learning experiences
In the sixth episode of this series, EUA’s Thérèse Zhang talks to Anneli Kalm, Development Manager at Tallinn University of Technology and Head of the Centre for Teaching Excellence and Educational Research at its School of Business and Governance.
Anneli shares how the Centre approaches the connection between staff development, curriculum development and enhancing student learning, what the added value of transnational collaboration is for teaching development and how this enables educators to manage constant change in higher education.
Guests
Thérèse Zhang is Deputy Director for Higher Education Policy, at the European University Association (EUA).
Anneli Kalm is Development Manager at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech), Estonia.
More information:
https://taltech.ee/en/ (https://taltech.ee/en/)
https://ai.taltech.ee/en/ (https://ai.taltech.ee/en/)
https://euroteq.eurotech-universities.eu/ (https://euroteq.eurotech-universities.eu/)
https://euroteq.eurotech-universities.eu/news/euroteq-spring-school-for-educators-2026/ (https://euroteq.eurotech-universities.eu/news/euroteq-spring-school-for-educators-2026/)
24 Jun 2026
Developing international and intercultural teaching
In the fifth episode of this series, EUA’s Thérèse Zhang talks to Kornelia Freitag, Vice-Rector for Academic and International Affairs at Ruhr University Bochum about transnational cooperation and staff development.
Kornelia shares how transnational staff development fits into Ruhr University Bochum’s internationalisation strategy and involvement in the European University of Post-Industrial Cities (UNIC) alliance, how to balance local priorities with international cooperation and best practices in transnational staff development.
Guests
Thérèse Zhang is the Deputy Director for Higher Education Policy at the European University Association (EUA).
Kornelia Freitag is the Vice-Rector for Academic and International Affairs at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.
22 Apr 2026
Leading and teaching by example
In the fourth episode of this series, EUA’s Thérèse Zhang talks to Manon Kluijtmans about Utrecht University's extensive history in championing educational leadership.
Manon shares how Utrecht University has been investing in developing a culture where staff development thrives since the 90s, how its longstanding educational leadership programme fits into this strategic mission, and how the university supports its staff through educational scholarship and evidence-informed learning and teaching that is tailored to work in each of their disciplines.
Thérèse Zhang is the Deputy Director for Higher Education Policy, at the European University Association (EUA).
Manon Kluijtmans is the former Vice-Rector for Education and current Dean of Utrecht University College, at Utrecht University, the Netherlands.
25 Mar 2026
Teachers are leaders and scholars
In the third episode of this series, EUA’s Thérèse Zhang talks to Diana Soares, Director of the Católica Learning Innovation Lab (CLIL), about educational leadership and pedagogical innovation at Universidade Católica Portuguesa.
Diana shares the focus of the Católica Learning Innovation Lab on evidence-based design and scholarship of L&T, the collective dimension of teaching, and how to support all teaching staff in becoming educational leaders that can act intentionally on, and reflect in a scholarly way on their teaching. We also learn about a major development across the entire Portuguese higher education sector, with the recent creation of a National Council for Pedagogical Innovation in Higher Education.
Guests
Thérèse Zhang is the Deputy Director for Higher Education Policy, at the European University Association (EUA).
Diana Soares is the Director of the Católica Learning Innovation Lab (CLIL) at Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Portugal
25 Feb 2026
From technical support to community
In the second episode of this series, EUA’s Thérèse Zhang talks to Guðrún Geirsdóttir about her experience as Director of the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTl) at the University of Iceland.
Guðrún explains how, over the years, she has seen the landscape of academic support evolve, what the Centre for Teaching and Learning's role is in promoting and implementing transformation in staff development, the factors that enable them to drive these changes, and how staying ‘future-oriented’ sometimes just means taking each wave one step at a time.
Guests:
Thérèse Zhang is the Deputy Director for Higher Education Policy, at the European University Association (EUA)
Guðrún Geirsdóttir is Director of the Centre of Teaching and Learning (CTl) at the University of Iceland
Find out more about STAFF-DEV project here. (https://eua.eu/our-work/projects/eu-funded-projects/staffdev.html)
28 Jan 2026
Fostering a culture of L&T
In this inaugural episode, EUA's Thérèse Zhang talks to Paul McSweeney and Catherine O’Mahony about effective strategies for organising and transforming staff development, to foster a culture of learning and teaching.
Paul and Catherine share their expert view on the enhancement of learning and teaching at University College Cork in Ireland. They describe the vibrant learning and teaching culture at their university, their Centre for Learning and Teaching's tailor-made flexible staff development, and how they manage to stay ‘future-oriented’ amidst a changing world for higher education.
Guests:
Thérèse Zhang is the Deputy Director for Higher Education Policy, at the European University Association (EUA)
Paul McSweeney is Vice-President for Learning and Teaching at University College Cork in Ireland.
Catherine O'Mahony is Director of the Centre for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning at University College Cork in Ireland.
Find out more about STAFF-DEV project here. (https://eua.eu/our-work/projects/eu-funded-projects/staffdev.html)
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