Meeting with representatives of Swiss universities
On 23 March 2023, a meeting with representatives of Swiss universities took place at the Institute of English Studies. The event brought together 13 guests representing various academic institutions, who visited to learn more about the organisation of teacher education and selected aspects of the Polish education system. The meeting had an informative and discussion-oriented character and provided a space for the exchange of experiences and good practices.
The programme of the event included a series of presentations delivered by the Institute’s staff, followed by question-and-answer sessions. The meeting was opened by Professor Mariusz Misztal, who welcomed the participants and outlined its objectives. This was followed by a presentation by Dr hab. Artur Piskorz, who introduced the structure and activities of the Institute of English Studies.
Subsequent presentations addressed the broader educational context in Poland. Dr Agata Wolanin discussed the Polish education system, while Ms Jolanta Szczudło presented the vocational education and training system as well as current educational trends among younger generations. Dr Werona Król-Gierat outlined the system of training nursery and early years teachers, and Dr Yuliya Asotska-Wierzba discussed the English language teacher education model based on the example of the Institute of English Studies.
An important element of the meeting was also the student perspective. Magdalena Witek and Łukasz Sztuczka shared their experiences of studying at the Institute. In the following part, Dr Joanna Pitura presented how the Institute develops the digital competences of future English language teachers, illustrating this with examples of content and activities implemented within EFL and CALL Didactics courses. Finally, Dr Sabina Nowak introduced a project on well-being in teacher education carried out in our Department, highlighting the importance of supporting well-being in the process of preparing future teachers.
The meeting provided an opportunity for discussion and in-depth reflection on the challenges and future directions of contemporary teacher education.
