Innovative learning and teaching in higher education (INOVUP)

The project Innovative learning and teaching for graduates’ high-quality careers and excellent higher education aims to improve the quality of higher education by introducing flexible and modern learning and teaching tools. The project enhances the pedagogical skills of teacher and employees in higher education. Through various trainings and similar events, trainers for trainers and design of didactic material the project enables transfer of knowledge on innovative and flexible forms of teaching, including the knowledge coming from foreign pedagogical practice, into Slovenia’s higher education institutions. Future graduates will thus gain and improve the skills and competences needed for successfully entering the labour market. “Active learning can be illustrated by various approaches that help students activate their thinking processes and that lead to a more productive learning and thus better results” says Dr Manja Klemenčič from Harvard University. She believes that “active learning brings the best results”.   

The project, which will end in fall 2022, in implemented by a consortium of higher education institutions. The consortium is a place that offers training, new knowledge, skills and exchange of good practices, as well as a place where research is conducted and the so-called trainers of trainers are established. So far 154 trainings for 1991 higher education teachers and employees have been carried out. Such training addresses a wide range of subjects and mentoring as well as the challenges of grading, the issue regarding establishing an inclusive community and flexible forms of working with various groups of students in the field of higher education, for example strategies for developing critical thinking, cooperative learning (planning, analysis and evaluation), project learning and task-based learning. Students are very eager to get involved. Patricija Sedminek, a student at the University of Maribor, says “I’m interested in how students could contribute to forming a pedagogical process which would benefit us all.”         

Additional information about the project

PHOTO: INOVUP