Strand 1

Comparative Study of Higher Education Systems in the Region

Leveraging Strengths Across Countries

  • What unique strengths or successful practices in teacher education or higher education does each country demonstrate that could be adapted or adopted by others in the region?
  • Are there innovative teacher training models, selection processes, or professional development programs in one country that could help address challenges faced by another?
  • How have countries succeeded in attracting and retaining high-quality teachers, and what policies or incentives have proven most effective?
  • Are there examples of effective collaboration between higher education institutions and other stakeholders (such as government, industry, or NGOs) that could be replicated regionally?

Addressing Common Challenges Together

  • What are the most pressing shared challenges in teacher education and higher education across the participating countries (e.g., teacher shortages and recruitment, quality assurance, funding constraints, or adapting to new technologies)?
  • How do countries ensure the ongoing professional development and upskilling of teachers/lecturers to meet evolving educational standards and student needs?
  • In what ways do cultural, linguistic, or policy differences create barriers to regional collaboration, and how might these be overcome?

Suggestions for Regional Collaboration

  • What specific areas of teacher education or higher education would benefit most from cross-country collaboration?
  • How can institutions facilitate the sharing of best practices, teaching materials, and research findings to improve teacher preparation and student outcomes across the region?
  • What mechanisms (e.g., digital platforms, joint workshops) could be established to sustain ongoing collaboration and knowledge exchange?

Development of Joint Curricula

  • Mechanisms for integrating diverse academic standards, credit systems, and teaching methodologies across countries.
  • Ensuring joint curricula meet the requirements of all participating institutions without sacrificing quality or relevance.
  • Addressing language barriers and the choice of instruction language in joint programs.
  • Strategies for incorporating intercultural content and perspectives into course design.
  • Administrative and practical challenges-such as tuition policies, intellectual property, and credit transfer-that can hinder joint program success.

Where do we go from here?

CONTRIBUTE
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