Based on the results of the Benchmark study (WP2), the Kurdish universities coordinated by UNIPV and the University of Zakho, leaders of WP3, have jointly worked to conduct a review of the academic offer in the Colleges of Basic Education through an action plan definition. The aim of this process is to equip KRI partner universities with strategies to enhance students’ engagement and the quality of the academic offer at the Colleges of Basic Education. The main steps to achieve the task are:
- To improve teaching and learning practices
- To provide an opportunity for critical reflection on the program’s curriculum
- To provide evidence to drive decision making within the programme.
To ensure concrete and sustainable results, the Action Plans begin by tackling some fundamental instruments of students’ engagement. In particular, they focus on integrating new teaching methodologies in the courses taught and in improving processes of syllabus development and review.
The Action Plans constitute an initial space to foster inter-university collaborations and the sharing of knowledge, experiences, and expertise among the KRI partners. They will rely on the work of three inter-university working groups for enhancing the academic offer at the Colleges of Basic Education, with a specific focus on:
- Syllabi, teaching language and materials
- Teaching methodologies
- Outreach mission and stakeholder engagement
To ensure continuity and coherence between the training activities (WP4) and the implementation of project actions within the Colleges of Basic Education at KRI partner universities, the inter-university working groups are constituted by the participants in the training activities (WP4). The composition of the groups is based on affinities between the participants’ research and teaching disciplines and the actions outlined in the Action Plans. The recommendations of the inter-university working groups will be applied within each KRI partner university according to the contextual needs, academic mission, and vision. The Action Plans will thus benefit from a regional perspective on HEI’s capacity-building, but will be operationalised autonomously within each specific academic environment.
Working Groups
During the mid-term project meeting, held in Zakho on 23-26 October 2023, the Consortium planned to undertake in all the HEIs a number of actions under the supervision of UNIPV and UoZ, leader and co-leaders of WP3. For this purpose, the Consortium decided to establish three themed inter-university working groups to discuss and finalize the different actions. The objective of the Working Groups is to promote interactions and joint work among the KRG partners, to foster further contacts, interactions and exchanges and with the ultimate goal of creating a solid and active network.
List of Actions
- Updating the syllabi according to an inclusion approach
- Monitoring of syllabi development and updating
- Translation of syllabi for social sciences and humanities in Kurdish, Arabic and English languages
- Internships for enhancing teaching skills in the KRI public schools
- Internships for enhancing teaching skills in the private sector
- Drafting of three reference books on teaching methodologies in the fields of History and women studies methodologies; Special education teaching methodologies; IT and active learning teaching methodologies.
- Creation or revitalisation of alumni network
- Organisation of job fairs
- Establishment of an online course catalogue
Remarks
For the implementation of all the actions, the International Office in each HEIs will deliver all the materials and recommendations produced to the Deans of the College of Basic Education. The office of the Dean will be in charge to implement the actions and spread them among staff and students. The Quality Assurance unit at the level of College of Basic Education will check the implementation of the actions. The direct engagement of the International Office, the office of the Dean of the College of Basic Education and the Quality Assurance unit will ensure the effective implementation as well as the sustainability of the project’s actions.
