As part of the activities related to UGD’s membership in the European University Alliance “ACE²-EU,” an information session was held regarding Work Package 2. According to Prof. Dr. Borka Tushevska from the Faculty of Law, the meeting was organized to address the needs of Work Package 2. The role of this work package within the alliance is essentially to create a “pedagogical factory” that, in the long term, will produce several short programs and courses within the framework of micro-credentials in the alliance.
“Today’s meeting aims to encourage experts from Goce Delchev University, meaning our staff, to express interest in participating in activities based on a prior internal call for Work Package 2. The goal was not to conduct an analysis but to map our human resources and utilize them within the alliance’s activities in areas where they can contribute the most,” stated Prof. Dr. Tushevska.
According to her, these activities align with the current trends in Europe regarding the role of universities.
“Based on my experience and perception, which I believe is quite realistic, micro-credentials and micro-qualifications are the direction in which all of Europe is moving. Globally, not just in Europe, universities operate in two shifts. The first shift implements accredited study programs, while the second shift essentially functions as micro-universities within the university. This involves short, specialized training, or micro-qualifications, in specific fields. Through these programs, which Europe supports and universities practically endorse, we aim to select competent individuals who are willing to work and contribute their expertise to create a program that may last one month, two weeks, or five days. Such programs will combine theoretical and practical components, delivered by individuals who have earned doctorates in the field or have practical expertise, with the involvement of laboratories and other infrastructure,” Tushevska explained.
“In the last 10 to 15 years, the landscape of higher education and its needs have changed significantly compared to the previous 30 years. Higher education now demands new, innovative, and practical methods. This means that students, perhaps influenced by digitalization or new technologies, increasingly avoid reading books of 200 or 300 pages and focus more on innovative, concise pedagogical methods. These include checklists, short texts, cultural events, audiovisual clips, films, and laboratory work, depending on the specifics of the program. Higher education must focus on educating students to solve specific problems. Europe and the European market require an academic background in a particular field—be it law, economics, computer science, mechanical engineering, or other disciplines—but with specific micro-qualifications from other fields. For example, an economist should have knowledge of computer science in a specific segment,” believes Prof. Dr. Tushevska.
According to her, this approach also addresses another challenge, as over the next four years or more, UGD expects to host 300 to 400 students for one or two weeks or ten days. These are potential opportunities for collaboration, including joint degrees in the second and third cycles of studies. When viewed through the lens of sustainability, the alliance offers opportunities for professors, students, and administrative-technical staff to grow and collectively contribute to the university’s progress.
