BRUSSELS –How can Europe improve teaching and learning? What are the effects of European higher education reforms on students across Europe and how can we promote and value again active citizenship, intercultural understanding and human rights education?
To answer these questions, the 30th European Students’ Convention will gather in Brussels over 100 student representatives from over 38 European countries between 28th and 30th September. Participants will discuss along with EU policy-makers, NGOs and higher education professionals the effects of European higher education reforms on learning and teaching and how to apply the student-centred learning approach. Mr Tibor Navracsics, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, European Commission will also attend the conference on 29th September.
It’s time to position students in the driving seat of the learning experience. The passive transmission of knowledge has proved to be ineffective. Instead, the student-centred learning approach aims to develop learner autonomy and independence in constructing meaning from new information and prior experience.
New framework for assessing student-centred institutions
During the European Students’ Union Convention, participants will gain insights into the main outcome of the PASCL project – a newly developed framework of criteria for conducting peer-assessment of the –student-centeredness of higher education institutions. This framework will be used to award a label to institutions fulfilling the criteria.
“We are happy to see that student-centred learning is also a priority in the Bologna Process, as reflected not only in the Yerevan Communiqué but also on the revised European Standards and Guidelines for quality assurance or the new ECST users’ guide. ESU’s PASCL Project, which will be presented during the European Students’ Convention, aims to assist in implementing sound Student-Centered Learning strategies and approaches at institutional level and to foster a culture of student-centred learning in higher education institutions across Europe. “ says Fernando Galan, Chairperson of the European Students’ Union
As the main milestone in higher education this year has been the Ministerial Conference and the Yerevan Communiqué, a special attention will be given to the follow up of the main outcomes and the future steps. Delegates will also discuss the European Commission’s newly proposed six new priority areas for Education and Training 2020 – which propose a sharper policy focus to better address the most pressing challenges facing our society
During the third day, discussions will revolve around the implementation of the Bologna Process from students’, universities and EU perspectives. The final debates will focus on ways to increase international cooperation and why empowering refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced people through accessible education is crucial for social cohesion and peace.
Background:
The European Students’ Convention (ESC) is a biannual eventorganised by ESU where students’ representatives from the national unions of students from 38 different European countries, other stakeholders, experts and policy-makers have the opportunity to meet and discuss about the recent and future developments of higher education. Previous conventions have showed that they are an important and relevant contribution to higher education policies in Europe and a great meeting point for exchanging points of view between students, policy-makers and other stakeholders.
ESU usually organises the ESC in the country which is holding the presidency of the council of the European Union at that point of time, in order to create synergies with the country presidency’s priorities on education, or in another country/city with a significant relevance for Europe as a whole.
The program of the event includes debates, presentations, panel discussions, workshops and networking opportunities provoking a dynamic exchange of ideas and different points of views. An outcome document is produced and shared with all the participants, member organisations of ESU, other stakeholders and policy-makers.
For more information, please feel free to consult the event webpage: http://www.esu-online.org/ents/event/113/
PASCL – Peer Assessement of Student-Centered Learning
With the support of the European Commission, ESU developed a new project called Peer Assessment of Student-Centred Learning (PASCL).The three-year project aims to re-evaluate the implementation of student-centered learning, highlight best practices and establish peer assessment procedures for the implementation of the concept in European higher education institutions.
For more information, please feel free to consult the event webpage: http://www.esu-online.org/projects/current/pascl/