Report To The European Commission On Improving The Quality Of Teaching And Learning In Europe S Higher Education Institutions

"With this report, we put quality of teaching and learning centre stage and show examples that can be applied elsewhere. To us it seems research as one important mission of higher education has often overshadowed the other core mission of higher education: teaching and learning."--Page 7.

Bridging the gap between higher education research and policy making was always a challenge, but the recent calls for more evidence-based policies have opened a window of unprecedented opportunity for researchers to bring more contributions to shaping the future of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). Encouraged by the success of the 2011 first edition, Romania and Armenia have organised a 2nd edition of the Future of Higher Education – Bologna Process Researchers’ Conference (FOHE-BPRC) in November 2014, with the support of the Italian Presidency of the European Union and as part of the official EHEA agenda. Reuniting over 170 researchers from more than 30 countries, the event was a forum to debate the trends and challenges faced by higher education today and look at the future of European cooperation in higher education. The research volumes offer unique insights regarding the state of affairs of European higher education and research, as well as forward-looking policy proposals. More than 50 articles focus on essential themes in higher education: Internationalization of higher education; Financing and governance; Excellence and the diversification of missions; Teaching, learning and student engagement; Equity and the social dimension of higher education; Education, research and innovation; Quality assurance, The impacts of the Bologna Process on the EHEA and beyond and Evidence-based policies in higher education. "The Bologna process was launched at a time of great optimism about the future of the European project – to which, of course, the reform of higher education across the continent has made a major contribution. Today, for the present, that optimism has faded as economic troubles have accumulated in the Euro-zone, political tensions have been increased on issues such as immigration and armed conflict has broken out in Ukraine. There is clearly a risk that, against this troubled background, the Bologna process itself may falter. There are already signs that it has been downgraded in some countries with evidence of political withdrawal. All the more reason for the voice of higher education researchers to be heard. Since the first conference they have established themselves as powerful stakeholders in the development of the EHEA, who are helping to maintain the momentum of the Bologna process. Their pivotal role has been strengthened by the second Bucharest conference." Peter Scott, Institute of Education, London (General Rapporteur of the FOHE-BPRC first edition)

Responding to the growing need for recruitment and retention of international talent in higher education institutions globally, this volume documents the experiences and contribution of international graduate students, researchers, and faculty. This text foregrounds perspectives around recruitment, transition, integration, professional development, and the retention of scholars originating from, or arriving in, countries including China, Australia, Iraq, Japan, and the US. By investigating the support systems that are in place to assist foreign-born faculty members in institutes of higher education, the text provides important insights for departments and institutions as they look to successfully attract and retain global academic talent. Moreover, the scientific and practical implications of the research presented in the text directly informs institutional policy, working towards more effective, inclusive, and equitable ways to support international faculty. This text will benefit researchers, academics, and educators with an interest in higher education, international and comparative education, and, more specifically, those involved with faculty development programs. The text will also support further discussion and reflection around multicultural education, international teaching and learning, and educational policy more broadly.

In 1999, the year when the Bologna declaration was signed, the foundation of the European Network of Teacher Education Policies (ENTEP) was proposed by the Portuguese Minister of Education to his Colleagues in the European Union Member States. 'Teacher Education - The Bologna Process and the Future of Teaching' reflects current challenges of Teacher Education in Europe based upon these 20 years of development. The Bologna process has become a crucial reference point for the modernization in higher education institutions. ENTEP, as European network of policy makers and researchers, has been working along these lines and has always sought to bring to fruition its vision for a European Higher Education Area (EHEA), where Teacher Education has a special place in the European landscape. In this volume, ENTEP members from different countries cover fundamental questions of teacher education in the European Higher Education Area. They discuss crucial aspects like fundaments, Initial Teacher Education, lifelong learning, evaluation, policy making, research and efforts to build bridges into the future. Thus, the book might serve as a starting point for discussions about future roles of teachers in Europe on different levels towards a European development of teacher professionalism.

The book analyses various challenges emanating from privatization, globalization and public financial crunch to understand the future directions of higher education in India. The book presents a careful understanding of structure, finance and governance of higher education and advocates a new way to look at increasing the capability of students to secure their future. Attention has also been drawn to the inequalities prevailing in the system of higher education and pursuing inclusive approach so as to have sufficient employment opportunities for students in the labour market. The book is divided into three parts. Part 1 deals with the future in terms of university structure and functions, Part 2 deals with the future of financing higher education and Part 3 deals with capabilities required by teachers for the future of universities. It is an interesting collection of various themes in different chapters which are authored by serious researchers. All policy makers, university administrators and teachers and researchers of higher education interested in governance, financing, teaching as well as research in the area of higher education will find the contents of the book relevant. The book will benefit in understanding the challenges of higher education and help remodel the future of higher education in India.

Advancements in technology in modern societies have resulted in an abundance of new educational tools and aids. Analyzing the effects of different mobile educational applications can provide insight into how technology can promote or discourage purposeful learning among students and educators alike. The Handbook of Research on Mobile Technology, Constructivism, and Meaningful Learning is a crucial scholarly resource that examines the use of newly-developed technology on classroom education. Featuring pertinent topics that include collaborative learning, social media integration, virtual reality, and critical thinking dispositions, this publication is ideal for educators, academicians, students, and researchers that are interested in expanding their knowledge on recent trends and technologies that are enhancing the educational field.

Exploring how digital resources are being used to engage students in learning and improve educational quality, Digital Agency in Higher Education promotes an awareness of relations and interplay between humans and digital artifacts. Examining the impacts in higher education through experience-based knowledge and a conceptual framework, this book: • provides a detailed analysis of how transformative agency can be identified, enacted, and cultivated, • offers up-to-date cases and a future-orientated perspective on technology and knowledge work, • addresses fundamental assumptions about how teacher education has needed to and needs to continue to develop, • explores issues of epistemology and ethics when facing increasingly ‘intelligent' technologies, and • argues for transformative agency to place a firm focus on human interests. Essential reading for teachers in higher education and educational researchers with an interest in how technologies impact learning and teaching, Digital Agency in Higher Education uses cutting-edge research to bridge the gap between theoretical perspectives and practices.