COUNCIL OF EUROPE Directorate of School, Out-Of-School And Higher Education, Higher Education and Research Division and PEOPLES’ FRIENDSHIP UNIVERSITY OF RUSSIA INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR MAKING THE EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION AREA A REALITY: THE ROLE OF STUDENTS

The learning environment Making the European Higher Education Area a Reality – the Role of Students Moscow, 2-3 November 2006 Martina Vukasović Centre for Education Policy, Alternative Academic Educational Network, Serbia

EHEA a reality in 2010 (Student) learning as the central process of higher education One of the indicators of the fulfillment of Bologna goals – quality => Quality of learning To enable quality of learning it is necessary to improve the quality of the learning environment

Learning and learning environment How one learns? Where does learning take place? Formal learning setting – e.g. a higher education programme Non-formal learning setting – e.g. a language course Informal learning setting – e.g. student union => External learning environment => Internal learning environment

Elements of the internal learning environment - 1 Structural Organisation of programmes and class schedule Size of classes ICT Library facilities Physical accessibility Peer interaction

Elements of the internal learning environment - 2 Teaching methodology Teacher’s approach to teaching (-> student’s approach to learning)  Learning with understanding, for application in practice/deep approach or rote learning/surface approach Inclusive teaching techniques  Classrooms are full with different students

Elements of the internal learning environment - 3 Link between teaching and research Does research always enhance teaching? Too much or too little research? Link between learning and work Non-learning elements Supporting extra curricular activities

External learning environment Acknowledge that it exists Acknowledge that there are (and should be) “spill-over” effects Enable recognition of prior and experiential learning

Improvement of the learning environment – who? Public authorities Legislative framework Sustainable funding solutions Quality assurance and accreditation procedures Higher education institutions Integrate! Student unions Advocacy Organising extra curricular activities