Eurydice

Continuing Professional Development for Academic Staff Working in Higher Education

Slovenia

Continuing Professional Development for Academic Staff Working in Higher Education

Thursday, 7 June, 2018 - 12:44

Professional development

Education staff at higher vocational colleges

The head teacher or director of a college is responsible for the professional development of the staff. The regulatory framework of training and professional development is the same as for basic and upper secondary school teachers.

Academic staff at higher education institutions

After six years of service a higher education teacher is entitled to one year of scientific research and study (Sabbatical). In this one year, his or hers teaching load is redistributed to other higher education teachers, but their respective teaching load should not be increased by more than one third.

CPD in the field of pedagogical and scientific research is an essential part of the work of higher education teachers, scientific workers and associates, since a professional title is a pre-condition of employment. The conditions for appointment are strict and the period of appointment is relatively short; three to five years. A higher title also positively impacts the professional’s financial situation. For the development of the pedagogical field, universities offer their teachers specialized supplementary programmes in higher education didactics and encourage international teacher mobility (e.g. Erasmus programmes for the exchange of knowledge and experience in the teaching practise).