WORKSHOP FOR TEACHERS OF UKRAINIAN HIGHER EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS HELD UNDER ERASMUS + PROJECT

On October 10-13, 2017, a workshop for teachers who participate in the international project “Improving teacher education for applied learning in the field of vocational education” under the program “Erasmus + KA2 – Capacity Building in Higher Education” was held at the Faculty of Pedagogical Education of the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. The main aim of the workshop was to familiarize the staff of Ukrainian higher educational establishments with the experience of European universities in organizing Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs for teachers in the field of vocational education.

The workshop was held by distinguished scientists, experienced teachers of European higher education institutions, namely the University of Konstanz (Germany), Vienna University of Economics and Business (Austria), University of Valencia (Spain). The workshop was attended by the project partners in Ukraine – teachers of the Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman, Institute of Vocational Education of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine, Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University and Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. The Ivan Franko National University of Lviv task force was in charge of the workshop and consisted of the Dean of the Faculty of Pedagogical Education Dmytro Hertsiuk, docents of the Department of General and Social Pedagogy Nataliia Horuk and Tetiana Ravchyna.

The participants of the workshop in Lviv had an opportunity to get acquainted with the system of training teachers for vocational education in Germany, which was presented by a professor from the University of Konstanz Thomas Deißinger. He thoroughly analyzed the structure and content of professional competencies of future teachers, explained the features of dual education system and application of new forms of cooperation between universities, vocational colleges and corresponding spheres of production in Germany.

Vera Braun, M. Sc. in Economics and Business Education at the University of Konstanz, outlined the key features of professional didactics and methodology of vocational training at higher education institutions. She draw attention of the participants of to the peculiarities of the way future teachers acquire professional competences in the process of vocational training, which include professional, personal and social competences, the use of appropriate teaching methods, as well as the teacher’s performance of corresponding pedagogical roles (mentor, supporter, advisor, promoter).

The report by Joachim A. Dietrich, a lecturer in Economics and Business Education at the University of Konstanz, aroused a great interest. He thoroughly analyzed the areas of vocational knowledge acquisition in the context of getting professional experience by future teachers as based on the organization of interaction between the university and vocational colleges. The speaker presented various didactic materials necessary for the development of teaching skills for vocational education at various stages of learning.

Professor Oliver Greuling examined various models of training vocational education teachers at German universities in accordance with modern theories of higher education, features of acquiring professional knowledge, skills, motivation, as well as the combination of training and student internship.

Richard Fortmüller, a professor at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, analyzed various models of training a vocational teacher in Austria. On the basis of specific economic topics he showed and analyzed ways of students’ acquisition of professional notions, as well as combining theoretical learning with internships.

Joan Aparisi, a professor at the University of Valencia (Spain), shed light on  the issue of preparing a teacher for vocational education in accordance with cultural identities of students.

The workshop of teachers who participate in the Erasmus + project in Lviv was held through fruitful dialogue, exchange of ideas and seeking a common vision. The professional interests of teachers of higher educational establishments of Ukraine were determined, pedagogical issues for the next discussion at the workshop in Ivano-Frankivsk were outlined. All in all, the meeting of project partners took place in a friendly and open atmosphere.