scholarly journals University Teachers’ Conceptions of What University Is: Implications for the Future of Higher Education

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Chaleta

This chapter presents the perception of university teachers about the university, the most recent changes and how they have influenced their activity. The phenomenographic study was conducted with 10 university teachers, nine females and one male with more than 15 years of professional activity. The perception of the university emerges, in the teachers’ voice, focused on the description of its mission, namely as a context for the production and diffusion of knowledge to society, as a space for creative and critical thinking about the world, as an interdisciplinary space and as a system focused on teaching and research. It also includes characteristics related to its structure and functioning, such as the level of hierarchization, bureaucratization, competitiveness, dehumanization and bibliometrics overvaluation. Regarding the perceived changes, they are related to the structural reforms resulting from the Bologna Process, diverse student populations, research and internationalization, new technologies, institutional cooperation, bureaucratization and relationship with the community. Teachers also revealed some dissatisfaction in the way they are experiencing university life due to the overwork resulting from the multiple tasks required in the four activity strands (teaching, research, management and extension) with an impact on quality and innovation, but in line with what the institution demands.

Author(s):  
María Dolores Lagoa-Varela ◽  
Begoña Alvarez García ◽  
Lucía Boedo Vilabella

In the last twenty-five years many changes have taken place in the Spanish University system and, as a consequence, the university lecturer’s role has evolved and a new teaching style prevails. The present paper focuses on University teachers of Economics and Business. It explores the teachers’ perception about the new methodologies that they have implemented, the extent to which the process of change has modified their way of working and, finally, the benefits and drawbacks encountered. Moreover, we examine whether differences of opinion arise depending on the distinct personal and professional characteristics of each teacher. The results reveal that most of the methodological changes undergone by the teachers stem more from the new profile of their students than by regulatory obligations. There is a unanimous opinion that the time and effort dedicated to teaching is now notably greater and that it is necessary to develop a rigorous system of teaching evaluation. In addition, two clear aspects can be observed: on the one hand, staff with a wider experience has carried out more changes and uses new technologies to a greater extent, and, on the other hand, the use and promotion of English in class is still a crucial issue.


2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-55
Author(s):  
Klara Skubic Ermenc ◽  
Nataša Živković Vujisić ◽  
Vera Spasenović

Over the previous decade, higher education in Slovenia and Serbia has undergone considerable reforms, influenced by the Bologna process and its agenda of competence and learning outcomes. In the context of these reforms, the aim of this research is to consider the question of the relationship between the theoretical and the practical education of pedagoguesat the university level. Eleven university professors from departments of pedagogy and andragogy at the universities of Ljubljana and Belgrade were interviewed. The semi-structured interviews focused on two main research questions: 1) how they understand the relationship between pedagogical theory and practice, and the identity of pedagogy as a science in that context, and 2) their opinion about the competence-based  approach in the context of the study of pedagogy. The findings show that the majority of the interviewed university teachers hold an opinion that pedagogy is primarily a theoretical (reflective) science and, accordingly, that the mastery of theory is crucial for the development of pedagogues’ competences. Furthermore, most of them are rather reserved and critical of the competence approach as well as of the practical skills development. Although there are some differences in opinions between the professors from Ljubljana and Belgrade, this study shows that similar discourses prevail. The gap between pedagogical theory and practice is one of the major issues that have been current in pedagogical science in the recent decades. The findings of our research indicate that there is dissatisfaction with the relationship between modern pedagogical theory and practice, accompanied by the need for its reconceptualization. 


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 50-60
Author(s):  
SVETLANA KOBACHEVSKAYA

In the current article, the viewpoints of the Belarusian and foreign scientists and experts on the organization of international cooperation in Higher Education Institutions within the Bologna process are analyzed, the directions of organization of interuniversity cooperation of the university are considered, the experience of Belarusian State Pedagogical University named after Maxim Tank in this direction and the objectives of interuniversity development are defined.


2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 65-69
Author(s):  
Yevhen Dolynskyi

Abstract Over the past decade in the world there has significantly increased the process of globalization, which resulted in high demand for the profession of a translator. For future interpreters it is important to be well informed, to know innovations of the sector, which they have chosen as the major. Therefore, the translator should be able to search for information, and critically evaluate it. The article deals with the analysis of the application of modern information technology in the future translators training at the universities of the EU countries. The analysis of scientific and pedagogical literature that investigated aspects of information technology training of future translators at the universities has been made. The most widespread of information technologies that are applied during the translators’ training process have been defined, the possibilities of their application have been grounded. Countries, cities, universities of European Union where such training is carried out have been pointed out. Also it should be mentioned that the characteristic feature of interpreters' higher education in Europe is that the training program tend to a specialization profile. Their main types are: full program of higher education and independent graduate programs of specialized nature. The skills development of using computer technology makes an important contribution towards improving the quality of education during the professional activity. The change and correction of programs in accordance with the development of information technologies, informatization process, professional translators' interests are carried out in education systems. In the process of professional training there are used the methods that are aimed at the intensification of the processes of self-education and self-development. An important provision of the Bologna process is the focus of higher education establishments on educational results: knowledge and skills of the graduates should be applied and practically used.


Author(s):  
José Luis González-Geraldo ◽  
Fuensanta Monroy

The Bologna process involved a strategic change that included in its policy agenda a move towards a student-centred scenario. In addition, a reasonable association may be assumed to exist between teaching development programmes and student learning outcomes. This research study focused on the impact that a brief yet intense formal and non-qualifying teaching programme, delivered as a seminar and supported by the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM) in Spain, had on teachers’ approaches to teaching measured by the most recent Spanish adaptation of the Approaches to Teaching Inventory (S-ATI-20). Results showed that there was a positive and statistically significant impact of the training programme on approaches to teaching measured by the information transmission/teacher-focused scale (ITTF). The poor attendance rate to this non-compulsory programme, course duration, participant profile, psychometric structure of the questionnaire used, and the relationship between teaching development programmes and approaches to teaching are discussed.


Author(s):  
Madina T. Bekoeva

The article presents a lapidary analysis of possibilities of using the case method and the project method in the formation of professional thinking of students studying philology and journalism. We also consider the possibilities of using case technology and project method in the process of studying professionally oriented disciplines. The practical significance of the work comes down to disclosing the effectiveness of the case method and the method of projects in the process of forming professional skills. The relevance of this article is determined by modern realities of educational process at the university. The case method and the method of projects make it possible to increase the motivational component of learning and contribute to the development of teachers’ progressive thinking and students’ creative potential, both of which are necessary for professional activities. In this article we also made an attempt at revealing the essence of these methods in the educational process at bachelor’s level. They turned out to be the main methods for the formation of students’ universal and professional competencies. The project method and case method act as an integral factor in the gamification of educational process contributing to the formation of skills of expedient action, activation of thinking, instilling the skills of independent search for solutions in standard and non-standard situations that may come up in the course of professional activity. Students actively and productively master the necessary competencies while revealing their latent potential. The case method and the project method demonstrate great efficiency in improving the quality of personnel training; the specific types of their practical implementation are developed jointly during classes by university teachers and employers’ representatives. The purpose of the article is to determine the methodological potential of the case method and the method of projects in the formation of professional thinking of future philologists and journalists and to consider the possibilities of using case technology and the project method in the process of studying professionally oriented disciplines. The project method is a relevant and effective technology that significantly increases the level of mastery of educational material, the internal motivation of students and their independence. The case method initiates the development of professional thinking, independence, unconventional thinking and creativity. When faced with a formulated problem, students concentrate on finding a solution to the problem and the teacher’s skillful interpretation of the problem directs students to search for non-standard ways. Everything mentioned above leads to the development of integrative thinking and significantly expands students’ capabilities. The practice of working with the case method and the project method in the classroom confirms their effectiveness in the professional development of university students, expanding their professional horizons and the formation of professional thinking.


2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 30-38
Author(s):  
Andrzej Chodubski

It is indicated in the lecture that higher education (universities) is one of the fundamentalentities that change the image of cultural and civilizational life. Nowadays, its existence in Poland is based on the European Union projects, including rules of so called the Bologna process. Changes in theimage and development of the Polish academicism that have been taking place, became subject of deep criticism made by scientific communities, as well as broad publicopinion. In the process of these changes a clash between traditional values and information society creation was revealed. A particularly critical attitude towards the present development of academicism at the University is presented by representatives of humanities and social sciences.


Author(s):  
Beatriz Morgado ◽  
Noelia Melero ◽  
Víctor Molina ◽  
María Dolores Cortés-Vega

The presence of students with disabilities in the universities is increasing. Faculty need to be trained in order to attend these students and with the objective to offer and inclusice education. The aim of this communication is to identify, describe and explain the barriers and aids that students with disabilities experience in university classroom. Forty four students with disabilitis participated in the research. A biographical narrative methodology was used. The university-life histories of the students were complied by making use of in-depth interviews, lifelines and photographs. Results indicate the important of faculty training in matters concerning disabilities and new technologies, informing to the faculty of the presence of students with disabilities in their classroom,  the existence of a specific service to support the faculty and the important of iimproving a positive attitude toward the disability. These results are dicussed in line with other studies. Recommendations are maded according to inclusive education and offering keys to universities to provide training plans leading to inclusive education and learning.


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