The University of South Bohemia (USB) and its partners are delighted to announce their recent success in securing a substantial grant of €250,000 to build on their last three years of collaboration to move from research to action: https://tefe.online.
The TEFE A+ project "Teachers of English for a Future Europe – Putting the Internationalisation of Teaching Practice into Action" aims to drive societal change by transforming teacher education. It advocates for the professionalism of teachers to be both transferrable and of the highest standard, recognising their significant influence on the lives of others. To achieve this, modern teachers must be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and competences necessary to promote language learning, critical thinking, diversity appreciation, and democratic values. This preparation includes providing them with a wide range of positive, real-life international teaching experiences from the outset of their teacher training.
The TEFE A+ will be during the next three years undertaken by a consortium of six European universities:
- Aston University, United Kingdom
- Comenius University Bratislava, Slovakia
- Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Hungary
- Public University of Navarra (UPNA), Spain
- University of Passau, Germany
- University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Czech Republic
The University of South Bohemia together with the Comenius University will continue to promote TEFE employability competences via the TEFE Framework, ensuring the practical relevance of the project. The University of Passau will lead the strategic advancement of internationalisation within TEFE initiatives, drawing on its strong global connections and experience. UPNA will focus on digitizing the TEFE methodology and its resources, enhancing the interactive features of the TEFE COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) platform. ELTE University will serve as a critical testing ground, providing valuable insights and perspectives to refine TEFE resources. Aston University will contribute its research-informed insights and ensure continuous evaluation of project activities, maintaining a commitment to data-driven improvement. Each partner brings a unique set of skills and resources to the TEFE A+ project, enriching its potential impact and significance in the field of education.
Additionally, the Department of English Studies within USB's Faculty of Arts will play a pivotal role as the project coordinator. The USB project team consists of dedicated individuals, including Dr. Alena Prošková (Content Creator and Manager), Dr. Helena Lohrová (Project Coordinator), Dr. Tomáš Jajtner (Stakeholder and Educational Liaison Coordinator), and Dr. Ivo Petrů (Financial Manager).
The TEFE A+ project was one of the eight projects selected out of 47 applicants. The 2023 competition saw the highest number of applicants since 2014. The project's success in receiving this prestigious award this year stood at a challenging and competitive success rate of 17 %.
For the TEFE A+ project, the consortium has acquired a new member - Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) in Budapest, Hungary. While the Jagiellonian University in Krakow (Poland), one of the TEFE founding partners, will not be formally involved in the TEFE A+ project, they remain an integral part of the consortium. The key aim of the TEFE A+ project is to internationalise teacher education, specifically with focus on the practical, teaching practice component of teacher education study programs across its consortium and beyond. The project seeks to embed International Teaching Practice (ITP), create international teaching placements/internships, and provide support for teacher mentors. It also aims to disseminate the TEFE Framework widely. Strategically, TEFE A+ targets the highest level of internationalisation in teacher education. This project, with its international partnership, supports inter-connected higher education systems and has the potential to stimulate innovative teaching practices while providing valuable data for policy making, contributing significantly to the field of education at the European level.
Background information:
Erasmus+ Cooperative Partnerships are EU-funded transnational projects designed to develop and share innovative practices, promote cooperation, peer learning, and exchanges of experiences in the fields of education, training, and youth. The TEFE consortium is a collaborative network of educational institutions, organisations, and stakeholders within the European Union (EU) dedicated to promoting and implementing ITP, mobility, and future employability of English teachers. The consortium's primary objective is to provide international, practice-focused professional development opportunities that equip pre-service teachers with practical skills, knowledge, competences, and ICC which are essential for effective English language instruction. By prioritising ongoing international professional development, TEFE aims to elevate the profession of teaching of English to a respected position, ensuring high-quality education for students and supporting the CPD of English teachers throughout their careers. The founding TEFE consortium, consisting of Aston University (United Kingdom), Comenius University in Bratislava (Slovakia), Jagiellonian University (Poland), The Public University of Navarra (Spain), The University of Passau (Germany), and The University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice (Czech Republic), was established in 2020 as part of the EU funded Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership project.
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