In accordance with EU agenda (COM/2017/0247), Lithuania (LT) highlighted the priority to promote changes in the educational system, aimed at ensuring quality of teacher education and quality education for every learner. In this regard, three teacher education centres (TEC) have been appointed, i.e., Siauliai University, Vytautas Magnus University, and Vilnius University (due to HE reform in Lithuania, in 2021, Siauliai University has been merged with Vilnius University. Since 01 01 2021, the Project beneficiary organization has been changed into Vilnius University). Consortium of TEC (LT) together with their international partners – University of Iceland and University College Cork, Ireland – aimed at strategic partnership for consolidation of academic resources and developed innovative teacher education practices of personalized learning in different socio-cultural contexts and shared with inspiring practices towards increasingly more learner-oriented teacher education. In this regard, there is a growing need for new educational concepts (i.e. personalized learning), innovative methods and strategies, appropriate tools and instruments etc. in order to better meet wide and changing spectrum of learners’ needs and create dynamic learning experiences.
The aim of the project was to develop, implement, and test innovative practices of personalized learning within the teacher education systems through strategic partnership. The main objectives of the project have need achieved:
OB1. To develop innovative teacher education approach through adopting personalized learning-based teacher education framework via strategic partnership;
OB2. To update teacher education study programmes based on the personalized learning concept;
OB3. To develop new tools for personalized learning-based teacher education (including methods, diagnostic instruments, e-tools)
OB4. To test the updated teacher education programmes and to assess (the manifestation and evidence) the implemented personalized learning-based concept.
The project Consortium comprised of 4 European universities – Vilnius University (after merging with Siauliai University) (LT), Vytautas Magnus University (LT), University of Iceland (IS), and University College Cork (IE) – teacher education centres. The main group of project participants consists of approx. 100 persons, i.e. partner universities teachers (teachers of teachers), student – teachers, and already practicing teachers. Additionally, many more university teachers, student -teachers, practicing teachers, educational policy makers, and other stakeholders beyond the Consortium benefited from the project through dissemination activities.
The main activities of the project have been focused on developing 4 main intellectual outputs: O1 Personalized learning-based teacher education framework (guidelines); O2 updated 8 teacher education study programmes based on personalized learning concept; O3 tools for personalized learning-based teacher education; O4 Research Report on innovated and tested teacher education study programmes. The short-term training for university teachers and intensive programme for teachers and students contributed to development of intellectual outputs. Management and dissemination were none the less important activities for successful implementation of the project.
The methodology was based on a participatory approach, i. e. collaborative planning and implementation, shared responsibilities and monitoring. The methodology served as a ‘way’ to systematically realize innovation in terms of time, cost and quality. Step-by-step sequence was used to design, develop and deliver intellectual outputs through the following stages: a) initiation, planning and design activities and results. The methodology was based on coordinated knowledge sharing, equal communication and collaborative decision making; b) execution (development, implementation, validation). All intellectual outputs: O1, O2, O3, and O4 have been developed. All partners were equally involved in leading and contributing to implementation of all project activities.
The project has made an impact on:
– university teachers / student – teachers’ competences / attitudes towards teaching and learning in HEi; teacher education models shifting from teaching to learning; qualification upgrading of university teachers; teaching practices at schools; national educational policies; implementation of strategy ‘Europe 2020‘ to support HEi to develop strategic partnership in order to efficiently meet global challenges in a rapidly changing school; comparability and compatibility of teacher education systems in EU HEi leading to education of new generation teachers.