Although there is evidence of extensive research on teaching techniques and methods in primary in secondary education in North Macedonia, there is very moderate research done in the field of academic teaching, especially using the digital tools in teaching and learning process.
However, a lot of research, scientific papers, and several Ph.D. theses are prepared within the Faculty of Information Technologies and Computer Engineering (FINKI) https://www.finki.ukim.mk/en, within the biggest state university in North Macedonia (UKIM- Skopje) regarding the use of digital tools in academic teaching.
Their research is especially focused on:
It is a similar situation within the International Balkan University-Skopje, as there are a lot of research and papers prepared by the Faculty of Engineering regarding the use of digital tools in the learning and evaluation process of natural sciences:
The following scientific papers published at international conferences Proceedings and Journals related to an innovative approach in academic teaching and students learning are worth to be mentioned:
There are many projects which are related to certain pedagogic innovation in teaching, learning, self-assessment, evaluation, and communication at the Higher education level such as:
There is one Center of this kind which is established by South-Eastern European University -Tetovo as an E-Learning Center within SEE University Tetovo.
One of the primary goals of the eLearning Center is to promote quality self-paced, learner-centered education through the development and delivery of quality web-based courses that can be delivered completely online. Furthermore, the eLearning Center assists in enhancing teaching and learning effectiveness through the development of interactive online supplementary material to traditional courses as well as organizing training workshops related to the development and delivery of online material.
The eLearning Center provides several services to the university community such as:
Awareness Events
The eLearning Center regularly organizes workshops on different issues related to eLearning like benefits and limitations of e-Learning, instructional design, online teaching, etc.
Software and Resources
The eLearning Center provides required software, like Learning Management Systems – LIBRI to ensure successful delivery of eLearning activities. Learning Management System - LIBRI help faculty members to carry out course-related activities through the web.
Training Workshops
Hands-on training programs are frequently conducted for SEEU faculties to enable them to develop effective online instruction.
Online Instructional Material
The eLearning Center provides support to develop online courses. Faculty members provide only the content of the online course and the support team in the eLearning Center does the rest of the job. In addition, the eLearning Center assists all faculty members to develop quality online instructional material to enhance student learning.
Learning Management System - LIBRI
LIBRI is an online Learning Management System (LMS) available to the university community to deliver and conduct their courses through the web.
There are no national initiatives for increasing academic staff capacities in innovative training methodologies and techniques, nor it is envisaging in the Law on HE.
However, there is an individual initiative by one state University (University of “Goce Delcev” -Stip) stipulated in the Programme of the Vice Rector for education and science towards:
- Establishment of Center for teacher education;
- Creating a system for continuous teacher training to improve the learning and teaching process;
- Teacher training to be introduced as a criterion for the election of professors;
- Introducing measurable mechanisms to express student’s satisfaction;
- Making a list of the practical competencies for each study programme.
The teaching competencies are based on Learning by Experience, as the teaching assistants (Ph.D. students) as well as Classroom demonstrators (Master students) have opportunity to hold exercises, work in groups, be part of the evaluation of the seminar project presentations as well as assisting the professors at lecturing.
In some Universities, there is the regulation that the Deans and Senior academicians are obliged to be present at Assistant Professors and Teaching assistants’ classes at least ones in one academic year, while there a is preparatory period for all newly appointed academicians. At the International Balkan University, it is sometimes practiced “Circle of Instructors’ as a new Teaching Quality assessment method. So the professors are invited to participate in their colleagues’ classes experiencing some good practices that might be introduced in their particular lecturing.
There are also practices in some private universities, for the newly employed lecturers to attend one-month “socialization training programme, where the newcomers are familiarized with the organization rules and teaching methods practiced at the university, and they are obliged to deliver at least one lecture on a selected topic practicing different lecturing techniques.
As for English Language teachers, there is the ELTAM (English Language Teachers Association of Macedonia), which organizes many workshops, seminars, conferences and training sessions for all English Language teachers, regardless they teach in primary, secondary or tertiary education English Language Teachers Association of Macedonia.
These activities are often supported by the British Council, IAETFL, Equals, the North Macedonian Ministry of Education and Science, or publishing houses such as Express Publishing, Oxford University Press or Cambridge University Press.
Faculties of Philology or Education in North Macedonia also organize conferences on language teaching practices (International Balkan University, FON University, Faculty of Philology "Blaze Koneski, Skopje, University of Goce Delchev, Stip, South-East European University, Tetovo, St. Kliment Ohridski University, Bitola).