The project aims at enhancing quality of design and delivery of initial teacher education (ITE) towards increasing the professionalism bar for teaching profession in Kosovo through the implementation of European-inspired quality assurance mechanism that produce teacher professionalism aspired by teaching profession in Kosovo. The two important concepts in this project are 1) internal quality assurance mechanism in Initial Teacher Education (including but not limited to program review, organised monitoring, collecting feedback from students on quality of teaching and learning resources, review of quality of student services, review of managerial practices including staff policies, review of research activity etc, and 2) the development of teacher professionalism. The project makes the link in a way that the proposed internal quality assurance mechanism needs to contribute to the achievement of the desired professionalism in school system. The desired professionalism is referred to the policy set up for the teaching profession which the internal quality assurance system needs to contribute to. In addition, in order to achieve a quality culture in initial teacher education, the project supports the development of management skills and practices to manage internal quality assurance as well as development of teacher educator competencies to be able to deliver quality courses (specified in quality indicators for teaching in teacher education) that are in line with the expectations of professionalism in teaching profession and at the service of school reform. In order to address this, the project provides capacity building and resources for teacher educators and managers of initial teacher education. In this way the project brings all stakeholders together to link to the development of a quality culture in teacher education in Kosovo.
Develop internal quality assurance mechanisms and processes within ITEDevelop capacities for management of internal quality assurance mechanisms in ITEDevelop capacities of teacher educators in delivering quality of teaching for teacher professionalismImplement and institutionalize a full quality assurance process in ITE (course implementation, program relevance, research program, international cooperation, student services, administrative and management practices, etc.) for improvement.
This pioneering initiative was crucial for Kosovo's higher education as it addressed two important gaps (i) lack of tailored internal quality assurance for initial teacher education and (ii) poor teacher professionalism. While all higher education institutions undergo external quality assurance based on ENQA's ESG, the internal mechanisms tailored to teacher education were notably absent. The urgency raised from challenges in school teaching quality and quality-oriented teacher education.
<< Background >> This pioneering initiative was crucial for Kosovo's higher education as it addressed two important gaps (i) lack of tailored internal quality assurance for initial teacher education and (ii) poor teacher professionalism. While all higher education institutions undergo external quality assurance based on ENQA's ESG, the internal mechanisms tailored to teacher education were notably absent. The urgency raised from challenges in school teaching quality and quality-oriented teacher education. << Objectives >> Develop internal quality assurance mechanisms and processes within ITEDevelop capacities for management of internal quality assurance mechanisms in ITEDevelop capacities of teacher educators in delivering quality of teaching for teacher professionalismImplement and institutionalize a full quality assurance process in ITE (course implementation, program relevance, research program, international cooperation, student services, administrative and management practices, etc.) for improvement. << Implementation >> The project targeted three pillars for supporting quality culture in initial teacher education: development of tailored policy and mechanism for quality ITE, staff capacity building, and processes set for quality study programs. This was in line with CBHE supporting mechanisms, as well as Kosovo national priorities. Through this project a collaboration between Programme and Partner Countries has strengthen cooperation to tackle challenges such as quality ITE and teacher professionalism. << Results >> 3 policies for internal QA, course review, and staff development and 1 package of QA instruments developed and approved 4+ intervention plans developed 20+ courses redesigned 250+ books purchased 10+ smart board sets and 40+ computers, laptops and other equipment purchased 1 capacity building program for management and 7 capacity building courses for academic staff implemented (40+ trained & certified staff) 1 Monograph published 1 teacher magazine published 3 stakeholder symposium organized.