Project rationale
UniTeLE project
«University Teaching and Learning Enhancment» (UniTeLe)
The project involves the improvement of the internal quality assurance system of teaching and learning, assessment of students’ knowledge and the work of the teaching staff. The long-term quality assurance system ensures that educational programs will be focused on practical approach to learning, driven by the demands of organizations-customers, as well as on active student learning and innovative techniques that teachers at 6 BY universities - project participants will learn while studying at the newly created in-service training program for university teachers.
The overall goal of the project is to enhance the quality of higher education (HE) outputs with high-level student performance & employability by enhancing internal Quality Assurance for teaching/learning & improving professional performance of teaching staff at BY Universities to optimise the response of HE to increased demands of society & economy.
The specific objectives are:
- to develop & apply internal QA system for teaching/learning & teaching staff performance with standards & procedures in accordance with best European practices
- to establish Centres for Academic Development & Teacher Training at each BY partner to manage the internal system of QA
- to develop an in-service training programme for university teachers who need pedagogical training
- to apply innovative methods of education for the increase in the level of students’ performance at studies
- to run the In-service University Teacher Training Programme in the pilot mode
Project partners
Project partners
- The University is a project grant holder and coordinator of its implementation in a consortium of 10 partners. Linnaeus University is a modern, international university with around 33,000 students in 5 faculties: “Health care”, “Social work and pedagogy”, “Humanities and social sciences”, “Business, economics and design”, “Science and engineering”
- The University of Genoa is one of the oldest higher education institutions in Europe. It was founded in 1471 on the basis of several colleges that existed in Genoa as early as the 13th century. Today, about 34 thousand students, undergraduates and graduate students study at 11 faculties at the university.
- Heidelberg University of Education is designed to train and qualify prospective teachers for a wide range of teaching careers in elementary, secondary and special needs education, as well as bachelors and masters of pedagogy. Both in teaching and in research, particular emphasis is placed on special education, aesthetic education, new media and didactic approaches in the field of science.
- Haci Bektas Veli Nevsehir University was founded in 2007. 17 825 students are trained at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Economics and Management, Faculty of Theology, Faculty of Tourism and Faculty of Engineering and Architecture.
- Belarusian State University is a leading university in Belarus. The total number of students enrolled at all levels of education – 34 200, including more than 2000 international students from more than 40 countries worldwide. BSU offers Higher Education Programs in 56 specialities and 256 specializations, Master Programs in 47 specialities, and PhD Programs in 114 specialities.
- Polotsk State University is one of the oldest universities in Europe. It was founded in 1581. More than 8500 students study at 7 faculties. The university successfully implements internationally recognized educational programs and projects, conducts research in the innovation field to create and support sustainable forms and methods of economic and technological development.
- Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno (YKSUG) is one of the most important educational and scientific centres in Belarus. The university consists of 15 faculties. YKSUG provides BA, MA and PhD programmes for 15 650 students.
- Brest State Technical University (BrSTU) is one of the largest educational & scientific centres in the western part of Belarus. BrSTU undertakes research into important areas of construction, architecture, electronics, computer sciences, mechanical engineering, economy & ecology & offers more than 30 degree courses. There are more than 11 200 students studying at 8 faculties.
- The Sukhoi State Technical University of Gomel, established in 1968, is a large technical higher educational establishment graduating engineers of mechanical engineering, technological & power engineering profiles, programmer engineers, IT specialists & also specialists for the field of economics & marketing.
- Belarusian State Order of the October Revolution and the Red Banner of Labor, the Agricultural Academy today is the largest multidisciplinary higher educational institution in the agricultural sector among the CIS countries and Europe. It has the status of a leading university in the national education system of the Republic of Belarus in the field of training for agriculture. There are more than 11,500 students studying at 14 faculties.
Project events
Introductory meeting at Carl Linnaeus University, Sweden.
On March 22-23, 2019 the international project of Erasmus+ program "UniTeLE" was launched at the Linnaeus University of Växjö (Sweden). During the event, issues related to the prospects for the development of the project in our country were discussed, a list of key events was determined, and acquaintance with partner universities took place.
Study visit to Heidelberg University of Education, Germany.
On September 16-20, 2019, a seminar on active learning methods used at the University of Heidelberg was held, as well as the second coordination meeting of the project.
Study visit to the University of Genoa, Italy.
From December 9 to December 13, 2019 the University of Genoa hosted a training seminar and training sessions on active learning methods for representatives of 6 BY universities, members of the project consortium, as well as an international conference dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Bologna Declaration. The seminar raised relevant issues regarding the QA of modern education: from the historical and social approach to the quality of education, to quality assurance through course accreditation and university policy development and teacher development.
Study visit to the University of Haci Bektas Veli Nevsehir University.
Postponed until the autumn of 2020 due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The project's focus on the introduction of advanced teaching methods and technologies, new active pedagogical technologies, and the establishment and operation of an effective quality assurance system through the application of the best practices of the Programme countries (EU and Turkey) will improve the system of teacher training in Belarus.
The experience of partner universities , from Germany and Italy, which was studied in the framework of the project, was broadcast along with trainings conducted by experienced coaches who apply advanced teaching methods and approaches to the organization of the educational process in their teaching practice.