A Virtual Solution for a comprehensive and coordinated training for foreign language TEACHers in Europe Erasmus Project

Project Title

A Virtual Solution for a comprehensive and coordinated training for foreign language TEACHers in Europe

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Teaching and learning of foreign languages

Project Summary

According to recent studies developed by the European Commission, there is an urgent need to improve Initial Teacher Education (ITE) to make it more attractive, collaborative and system-wide focused. Among other shortcomings, there is no unified format for teacher training at European level. Neither the digital platforms for promoting mobility, nor unified digital tools for the mentoring the needs of students in their internship phase. Secondary Education is a crucial stage for assessing the Quality of the Formal Education systems in Europe. Foreign Language teachers training and procedures for accessing this profession is a key factor to ensure the formal education system follows the highest quality standards and does it in convergence with all European countries. The VIR_TEACH (A VIRtual Solution for a comprehensive and coordinated training for foreign language TEACHers in Europe) project aims to raise and homogenise the required competencies for an efficient and high-quality teaching labour at Secondary Education stages, developing methodologies and systematic analysis of the current situation in the EU and deploying a set of resources for taking the right steps and progress steadily in the right direction.

The VIR_TEACH project is a step forward to advance on the previous work developed by other networks that have been pursuing the internationalisation of educational practice.
The creation of the digital space suggested in the VIR_TEACH project fosters the internationalization and convergence of national formats, as well as the exchange of methodologies and good practices. Its main objectives are:
– To design of user-friendly and useful digital tools aimed at ITE, focused on knowledge transfer, social networking and follow-up during the internship phase.
– To research into a coherent competencies framework and the broad outlines of institutional action.
– To promote the sharing of innovative practices in the initial training of language teachers and the internationalization of the respective training practices, progressing towards European Convergence.
To achieve these goals, the VIR_TEACH project provides a compendium of good practices and resources for trainee-teachers (O1). It creates a digital space of encounter and exchange between the teacher trainers, the students and the pre-service and in-service centers (a Virtual Learning Environment), providing in addition a digital space to enhance a greater coherence between the training and the internship phase (O2). And a series of guidelines will be published, specifically for public administrators (O3). The project organises two Multiplier Events to disseminate these outputs and collect feedback: An International Workshop and a Final Conference, as well as a Learning Activity specifically aimed at trainee teachers and teacher students.

The transnational cooperation required for the development of this project ensures the exchange of best policies in ITE. The partnership is formed by 5 Universities from very various cultural backgrounds and wide geographical coverage (Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Spain). The target groups involved in this project are teacher students and educators from universities and secondary and language schools teachers from the participating countries, as well as policy makers, trainee-teachers and national representatives.

Project Website

http://virteachproject.eu/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 383709,2 Eur

Project Coordinator

UNIVERSIDAD DE BURGOS & Country: ES

Project Partners

• COFAC COOPERATIVA DE FORMACAO E ANIMACAO CULTURAL CRL
• UNIVERSITATEA CRESTINA DIMITRIE CANTEMIR
• Szczecinska Szkola Wyzsza Collegium Balticum
• UC LIMBURG