Coaching Academics as Learners for Inclusive Teaching in Optimal Networks

The project Coaching Academics as Learners for Inclusive Teaching in Optimal Networks- COALITION (2022-1-NL01-KA220-HED-000088497) is an ERASMUS+ transnational project, aiming to address contemporary challenges in Higher Education. It aims at the academic development of academics and teaching staff by create active communities of practice and learning as well as learning environments that allow more opportunities for active engagement of all students, self-regulation, autonomy and achievement of their academic goals without exclusion and without labelling. At the same time, the project aims to create opportunities for the expression in the university lecture theatre of suppressed voices that are usually silenced, such as those of students, especially those from marginalised social groups (e.g. disabled, foreign language speakers, those from low socio-economic backgrounds). COALITION addresses these challenges by using inclusive student-centred pedagogical approaches (i-scP) that incorporate the needs, plans and interests of all students regardless of their identity.

Such approaches can improve the existing skills of Higher Education teaching staff by providing them with valuable educational tools that will benefit a wide range of students. The project is being implemented simultaneously in 6 EU countries. It is coordinated by Leiden University – The Netherlands and its duration is 36 months, starting in September 2022.

More specifically, the project starts with mapping of the existing situation as well as the competences of the faculty of the partner HEIs in relation to inclusive student-centred pedagogical approaches. Based on the findings, digital training materials (interactive MOOCs and e-book) will be designed to address and develop processes that aim to form a learning community among the participants (faculty members/teaching staff/ lab staff). The project will conclude with the development of a Guide of Good practices for managers of academic/professional development centres for Higher Education faculty and policy makers in higher education, which will contribute to the sustainability and dissemination of the project results.

 

Website: https://coalition-erasmusplus.com

Linkedin profile: COALITION PROJECT https://www.linkedin.com/company/coalition-project/

Facebook: COALITION FACULTY DEVELOPMENT https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088177017054

The main mission of the European project COALITION includes the exchange of good practices of inclusion and student-centered learning (i-SCP) in order to transform faculty development and to assist the self regulation of students and professors. The participants in this project are academics who make their teaching more inclusive, to facilitate knowledge through supportive frameworks to the general academic body of their university, based on student needs. Participants will exchange experiences, ideas, opinions and good practices with other faculty members from other universities. Our goal with this project (Figure following) is:

1. Data collection of needs and competences of the teaching staff for the i-SCP Teaching in Higher Education and alignment of activities of staff development through a MOOC and an active learning community (CoP).
2. Provision of personalized procedures centered around i-SCP through action research, guidance by peers, observation by peers, self-reflection and self-evaluation, and evaluation of the effectiveness of the choices made by Faculty members/teaching staff.
3. Creation of i-SCP content with interactive activities (e-book, MOOC with micro-credentials).
4. Creation of a guide for Faculty Development centers whose goal is University Education.