Academic teaching requires more than just being a skilled instructor; it also involves sharing knowledge, reflecting on teaching practices, and being open to peer review. A critical friend acts as a constructive critic, providing honest and helpful feedback to support fellow teachers in developing and improving their pedagogical skills. Critical friends are typically colleagues or peers with expertise in the same field or industry. By providing an outside perspective, they allow teachers to share insights and experiences, supporting teaching practice by identifying strengths and weaknesses and guiding pedagogical improvement.

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Critical friends create an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust where open and honest communication is encouraged to foster personal and professional growth. For the critical friend method to be successful, it requires a professional attitude and mutual trust within the faculty, where teachers are committed to each other's development. This collaboration creates a culture of continuous improvement and quality assurance, which benefits student learning.
This week, a critical friend process took place at the School of Naprapathy as part of the first-year course "Scientific Development 1 - Theory and Methodology," where lecturer Per Palmgren received oral and written feedback from his critical friend, Helène Schulte, Principal and Head of the "Health and Disease" subject area.
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Helène Schulte, MD, PhD
Principal, School of Naprapathy