NEOLAiA meeting in France: innovative solutions for improving the quality of teaching
The first NEOLAiA European University Alliance partners' meeting was held at the University of Tours in France on 11-14 June to discuss the Work package 2 (WP2) "Improving Teaching and Learning".
Teaching and learning is one of the three goals that NEOLAiA Alliance is designed to achieve by 2030 (high quality education, an open and inclusive education and social environment, and innovative research-informed study programmes). Accordingly, the work package "Improving Teaching and Learning" and its initiatives will contribute to this mission of the NEOLAiA Alliance as a European University. With the aim of creating a politically, economically and scientifically engaged community of European citizens who are able to participate fully in society and the economy, the NEOLAiA Alliance sees its role as that of an active participant in the pursuit of the global educational goals.
Šiauliai Higher Education Institution was represented at the meeting by Dr. Rasa Pocevičienė, Head of the Office for Coordination of Studies and Research and institution‘s delegate to Work package 2, and Dr. Renata Šivickienė, lecturer at the Department of Business and Accounting and institution‘s delegate to Work package 1 (“Project Management”).
The visit included experience-sharing workshops and roundtable discussions between NEOLAiA Alliance partners from 9 European higher education institutions: University of Bielefeld (Germany), Örebro University (Sweden), Šiauliai Higher Education Institution (Lithuania), University of Jaén (Spain), University of Nicosia (Cyprus), University of Ostrava (Czech Republic), University of Tours (France), Ştefan cel Mare University of Suceava (Romania) and University of Salerno (Italy).
During roundtable discussions the NEOLAiA WP2 delegates discussed the issues relevant to the second Work package, such as the Summer School, Pedagogical Hub, Focus Academy, etc. Good practices on the use and specificities of micro-credentials in all partner countries were shared. The Quality Assurance Network was presented and its role in ensuring the quality of higher education studies was discussed, as well as the support it can provide to the academic and the organising and administering community in the implementation of studies in a multicultural environment.
The visit helped to finalise the calendar of future activities within WP2 and to discuss other strategic and tactical issues in this major work package. The details of the future activities and the opportunities for the involvement of the whole ŠVK academic community, including students, will be presented at the presentation of the WP2 "Improving Teaching" activities scheduled for the beginning of the new academic year.
The French hosts of the event presented the spaces for students at the University of Tours, where the partners had the opportunity to try their hand at creating audio and video recordings. It is important that similar opportunities are made available to all members of the NEOLAiA Alliance community in the future.
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