Karazin University Participants Complete Two Professional Development Programmes with a Summer School in Warsaw

The Education and Research Institute “Academy of Teaching” in partnership with the School of Education of the Polish-American Freedom Foundation and the University of Warsaw (Szkoła Edukacji PAFW i UW) organised professional development programmes for Karazin University lecturers aimed at improving the preparation of future teachers. The final stage of the training was a summer school held in Warsaw, Poland, from August 31 to September 4, 2026.

The cooperation covered two interconnected programmes — “Mentoring in Teaching Practice” and “Active Learning Technologies for STEAM Education”, each comprising 30 hours (1 ECTS credit). The programmes combined the acquisition of modern teaching approaches with the development of materials for classes and for supporting students during their teaching practice. The online training took place throughout May.

As part of the “Active Learning Technologies for STEAM Education” programme, lecturers worked with trainers Natalia Morze, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine, and Maria Boiko, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor, exploring research and project-based methods, digital tools, and opportunities for the responsible use of artificial intelligence. The practical assignments involved rethinking their own courses: how to engage students in research, working with evidence, finding and justifying solutions, as well as how to assess the outcomes of such activities.

Within the “Mentoring in Teaching Practice” programme, participants explored models of mentoring support, learned to identify the professional needs of student teachers, analyse lessons, and provide constructive feedback. Particular attention was paid to the professional motivation of future teachers, reflection, and psychological and pedagogical support in challenging situations. From the Academy of Teaching, the programme was developed and delivered by Viktoriia Chepurna, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, and Veronika Kryzhanovska.

The summer school in Warsaw provided an opportunity to continue this work together with Polish colleagues. It brought together Karazin University lecturers involved in improving educational programmes and the practical training of future teachers.

Over the course of the week, the Karazin University participants learned about the School of Education’s experience in teacher preparation and took part in practical sessions on STEAM education, active learning, critical thinking, and social and emotional skills development. The programme also included a visit to the Copernicus Science Centre and professional discussions on applying the approaches explored during the training to teaching practice.

An important part of the training was the presentation of projects prepared during the online stage. Participants presented their own pedagogical solutions, received feedback from colleagues and trainers, and discussed opportunities for implementing them at the university. This format helped connect the content of both programmes with the lecturers’ specific tasks — updating teaching sessions, developing assessment tools, and improving mentoring support for students.

The summer school concluded with a round-table discussion dedicated to the role of STEAM education and mentoring in advancing educational innovation. Ukrainian and Polish colleagues reviewed the results of the training, discussed prospects for further cooperation, and explored opportunities for using the materials developed in university courses and in the teaching practice of future educators.