Topic: exchange of experience between two systems of higher education and improvement of knowledge in the field of teacher training in higher education
Study visit period: July 25 – 27, 2022
The representative of ACQAHE, in accordance with the planned project activities, in order to improve knowledge in the field of teacher training in higher education and the development of lifelong learning programs, visited Spanish institutions that deal with the aforementioned topics.
The study visit was realized by visiting the following institutions:
- AQUIB – agency for quality assurance in higher education
- IRIE – institute for research in the field of education and innovation in the field of education and training
- University of the Balearic Islands.
The purpose of the visit was to exchange experience between the two higher education systems, as well as to present the activities and results of the BAQUAL project.
During the visit to AQUIB, representatives of ACQAHE highlighted the key determinants of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) that contribute to ensuring and improving quality in higher education. The representative of ACQAHE had the opportunity to get acquainted with the Spanish network for quality assurance in the field of higher education (REACU), which consists of a national agency and 10 autonomous agencies in Spain. The information that was particularly interesting was that AQUIB, in addition to regular evaluation activities, also carries out the activity of accreditation of academic staff, on the basis of which decisions are made on the awarding of awards to academic staff for exceptional work, and in accordance with established AQUIB principles. The above can represent a good practice that can be adopted in other countries, especially in the context of encouraging the improvement of teacher competencies. AQUIB representatives also provided information on the Spanish qualifications framework, which is continuously being worked on and improved.
During the visit to the IRIE institute, the annual plan for the training of teachers in higher education, which is implemented at Spanish institutions, was presented. The training that is carried out is focused on the development of digital competences, management of social and communication skills, improvement of presentation skills, video presentation skills, related to academic integrity, preparation of academic staff for accreditation procedures, support in the publication of scientific papers, creation of SPSS databases, use of digital classrooms , creating digital questionnaires and the like. The aforementioned trainings met with a high response from the academic staff, and assistants and assistant professors were especially interested in them.
During the visit to the University of the Balearic Islands, an example of training for the improvement of teacher competences, which is carried out in cooperation with the IRIE Institute and consists of 16 ECTS points, was presented.
All three institutions expressed interest in the BAQUAL project and the development of the professional qualification envisaged by it, especially in the conducted surveys on teacher competencies and their concept.
In the end, the three-day study visit fully met expectations, and the experience gained will be of great importance for the implementation of a similar program for improving teacher competencies in Montenegro.