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Active Learning Pedagogy School (ALPS) – Madrid 2026

May 26 @ 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Course Type:

Active Learning Pedagogy School (ALPS) – Staff Training Programme

 

Duration and Learning Format

This ALPS is a blended staff training programme combining short online preparatory and follow-up sessions with four on-site intensive training days in Madrid.

Total workload :

    • Online preparatory session: 2 hours synchronous online
    • On-site intensive training: 32 hours (4 days)
    • Online follow-up session: 2 hours synchronous online
    • Independent reflection and follow-up work: 8 hours

Dates of:

  • Online preparatory session: 20 May 2026, 12:00–14:00 CET
  • On-site component: 26–29 May 2026, Madrid, Spain
  • Online follow-up session: 3 June 2026, 12:00–14:00 CET

 

Credits and Certification

On sucessful completion of the course participants will receive 2 ECTS credits and a certificate of attendance

Organising Institutions and Teaching Staff:

Lead and Host Institution

  • Universidad Francisco de Vitoria

Facilitators and academic staff Universidad Francisco de Vitoria

External stakeholders

Where relevant, selected educational and institutional stakeholders may contribute to specific sessions or reflection activities.

 

Course Overview

Teaching today is no longer only about delivering content—it is about engaging students, encouraging participation, and helping them develop skills for real-world challenges. This course focuses on how to make learning more active, collaborative, and meaningful through an active-experiential learning approach.

The Active Learning Pedagogy School (ALPS) addresses a key challenge in higher education: how to move from traditional teaching to student-centred approaches where students learn by doing, reflecting, and applying knowledge in real contexts.

Participants will explore practical ways to design learning experiences in which students actively participate, collaborate, and solve problems. Through active-experiential learning, teaching becomes a process where students engage with real situations, test ideas, and learn from experience.

This is especially relevant in international and interdisciplinary environments, where diverse perspectives enhance learning. The course supports academic staff in designing more engaging, interactive, and meaningful learning experiences aligned with current educational needs.

Learning Journey
Online sessions:

The programme begins with a short online preparatory session (20 May 2026, 12:00–14:00 CET), where participants are introduced to the overall approach, connect with peers, and reflect on their current teaching practices. This session helps establish a shared starting point and prepares participants for active engagement during the on-site training..

  • Onsite sessions:

The on-site training will take place in Madrid, Spain, from 26 to 29 May 2026. Participants will engage in hands-on workshops, collaborative activities, and peer exchange based on active-experiential learning. They will work in interdisciplinary and intercultural teams to design, test, and refine learning activities. The focus is on learning by doing, experimenting, and reflecting in a dynamic and supportive environment.

As part of the programme, one of the training days will take place outside the university, in a natural setting. This experience includes a guided route of approximately 10 kilometres and is designed to explore learning through movement, reflection, and connection with others. It offers a unique opportunity to experience active-experiential learning beyond the classroom and to engage with teaching from a different perspective.

Participants are encouraged to take this into account when applying. Support can be provided where needed to ensure that all participants can meaningfully engage in the experience.

  • Follow-up / reflection:

The programme concludes with an online follow-up session (3 June 2026, 12:00–14:00 CET), where participants will engage in guided reflection activities and peer exchange.

Learning Objectives

 

Specific learning objectives include:

List clear and measurable objectives that describe what students are expected to achieve.
Use action verbs (e.g. analyse, apply, design, reflect).

Learning Outcomes (By the end of the course, participants will be able to):

  • Fields or disciplines (broad categories only)
  • To understand the principles of active-experiential learning in higher education
  • To analyse current teaching practices and identify opportunities for improvement
  • To design interactive and student-centred learning activities
  • To apply active learning methodologies in interdisciplinary and intercultural contexts
  • To reflect on teaching approaches and their impact on student engagement
  • To develop and present a short learning activity as part of a formative assessment process
  • To engage in peer feedback and self-reflection to improve teaching design

 

Which participants would find this course useful for them?

This course is suitable for academic and teaching staff from ACE²-EU partner universities involved in undergraduate and postgraduate education.

It is particularly relevant for participants from all academic disciplines who are interested in enhancing their teaching practice, especially those who will design or deliver Micro-Learning Opportunities (MLOs) or Joint ACE²-EU programmes.

  • Requested Language Level :
    • English B1–B2

This is mandatory, as English is the working language of ACE²-EU courses.

This course may be suitable for those who have an interest in:

  • Innovative and student-centred teaching methods
  • Active-experiential learning
  • Interdisciplinary and collaborative education
  • Internationalisation of teaching and learning
  • Designing joint or blended learning experiences

Application Process:

Interested applicants should apply through their home institution within the ACE²-EU Alliance.

🔗 Apply here: https://forms.gle/g5s14j25hc1KqzQs6

Deadline for receipt of applications: 15 May 2026

Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee a place on the programme. Participating institutions apply their own internal selection procedures.

Prior to the start of the course, selected participants will receive a welcome email from the ACE²-EU Alliance containing detailed information and instructions specific to the programme.

 

Further Information

For any further information or queries related to the course, please contact:

Email ace2eu@ufv.es

Details

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