Preschool Teacher Training Colleges in Serbia: Professional Development Overview

KEEP EDUCATING YOURSELF / KEY / 598977-EPP-1-2018-RS-1-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP The role of preschool teacher training colleges in professional development of preschool teachers in Serbia Preschool Teacher Training College Krusevac 13 - 15. 03. 2019. Pirot 1

Introduction Professional development of preschool teachers includes various forms of formal, non-formal and informal education and lifelong professional and personal development. The role of higher education institutions in this process is multiple and multi-dimensional. First of all, preschool teacher training colleges (PTTC) contribute with careful and continuous improvement of the curriculum, whose goals, contents and outcomes are in line with current trends in higher education and reflexive practice vision.

Postgraduate studies All PTTCs participating in this project have accredited specialist studies from various fields of interest for preschool education (preparatory preschool program, development of inclusive practice, work with children from vulnerable social groups, intercultural education, etc.) Some of the colleges have accredited master studies for preschool teachers (that number is rising, considering the fact that master vocational studies were implemented in Serbia in 2017.) The specificity of master studies is the final MA paper, which implies "in the field " project (action research) in a preschool group that responds to some important question or practical problem in kindergarten. Research work is carried out under the mentorship of preschool teachers that itself can be and certainly will be a way for them to learn new things as well.

Non-formal context Local government institutions Centers for professional development Institutes Proffesional Associations NGOs ... Preschool teacher training colleges are also a place for non-formal professional training. How? By being a motivator, a creator, an organizer and performer of various professional training programs and events. But, most of all, by connecting various institutions (theory+practice), sectors and programs important for professional development of preschool teachers.

ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS The dominant form of continuous professional development of preschool teachers are professional training programs accredited by the Institute for the Improvement of Education. They are more frequent than all other forms because they are a subject to the crediting system and preschool teachers often identify their professional development with training programs.

State of the art All PTTCs participate in accredited professional training of preschool teachers in Serbia, by offering various accredited training programs for preschool teachers . These programs cover all four priority areas (P1-P4) and key competences (K1-K4).

PTTC Sirmium Sremska Mitrovica Accreditation period PTTC Novi Sad PTTC Pirot PTTC Kru evac PTTC Vr ac 2018/19.- 4 9 7 1 2009/10 to 2017/18 8 12 2 8 3

Some Examples Play as a center of pre-school curriculum Giftedness in pre-school and school: recognition and additional support (PTTC Sirmium) Integrative Practice - Integrative Curriculum (PTTC Pirot) Improving good models in communication Pedagogical counseling work of preschool teachers and professional associates in the function of empowering their own capacities (PTTC Novi Sad) Drama Education in the Prevention of Peer Violence (PTTC Krusevac) Interculturalism in kindergarten: Roma language, customs and culture Models of professional development in the function of empowering competences for lifelong learning (PTTC Mihailo Palov Vrsac)

And many, many more...

OTHER FORMS OF PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT Scientific-professional Conferences of regional, national and international importance, expert meetings (congresses, days, consultations, symposiums, round tables, panels), professional and study trips, professional visits, joint projects, mentoring, traineeship, research of practitioners (realization of research projects) model kindergartens, actives, horizontal learning, cooperative learning, realization of model activities, presentations at meetings of professional bodies, books, manuals creation and presentation of didactic material, professional articles, different types of research (within the institution) an many more. Some of them are highly frequent in Serbia (conferences, study visits, training courses, tribunes etc.).

The role of the Preschool teacher training colleges Managing partnerships between institutions in the process of creation, realization and evaluation of concrete forms of professional development of preschool teachers (connecting). Team work within the process of the professional development of preschool teachers. Organizer and performer; supervisor of some forms of training. Cooperation with preschool institutions on a daily basis.

Conferences "Preschool Teacher in XXI Century" (Aleksinac) "Round Table on Giftedness" (Vr ac) "Contemporary Challenges in Education and Upbringing - Didactic Aspects (Vr ac) "Methodical Days (Kikinda) "HOLIPRI (holistic approach) (Pirot) "Inclusion in preschool institution and school (Sremska Mitrovica) "The Role of an Inclusive Pedagogue in Education (Sremska Mitrovica)

Conferences II "Initial education and professional development of preschool teachers (Sremska Mitrovica) "Everyday Life of the Child" (Novi Sad) "Educational Processes in Pre-school (Subotica) "Educational HORIZONS (Subotica)

Tribunes Child with autism in an inclusive preschool group (Kru evac) "Parents as partners in recognizing giftedness and providing additional support. (Sremska Mitrovica ) Continuous supervisory monitoring and support for preschool teachers in recognizing giftedness and planning additional support (Sremska Mitrovica ) Various approaches to stimulating child development (Novi Sad) "Developmental characteristics of the preschool child - a holistic approach (Novi Sad)

Panel Discussions-example Panel discussion for preschool teachers from the Srem county district, held in Sremska Mitrovica, supported and financed by the Association of Preschool Teachers of Vojvodina Various themes, dynamic inteaction They are organized according to presented preschool teachers`needs for further informations

International cooperation and projects TEMPUS and ERASMUS+ projects "Development of New Information and Communication Technologies" and "Digital Media Technologies and Socio- Educational Changes", financed from the funds of the Ministry of Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia ( abac) "Improving the reporting process and monitoring the work of inter-departmental commissions for assessing the children that need additional education, health and social support" (Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction Team) and Improving Preschool Education in the Republic of Serbia Project (IMPRES) , abac

International cooperation and projects II PTTC Vr ac cooperates with more than twenty higher education institutions from Europe and the world within the framework of project activities Erasmus + WET program for International Teacher Mobility study visits: PTTC Krusevac and Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, Rrepublic of Ireland Experiential Learning (PTTC Pirot)

Educational Centers and Programs PTTC Kikinda has it`s own Center for Continuous Education of Preschool Teachers, as a form proffesional development within the concept of life-long learning model, outside of the curriculum, for which it has been granted a work permit, in accordance with the Law. PTTC Novi Sad prepares and implements nine internal programs of professional development of preschool teachers-mentors and other staff in pre-school institutions on the following topics: children's rights, inclusive education, cooperation with parents, communication, integrated and project approach in working with children, fine arts, musical and artistic expression, overcoming stress among preschool teachers etc

Additional activities Research projects in kindergartens Educational workshops for prechool teachers and parents Seminars Consultations and mentoring Joint projects with preschool institutions Summer schools Publishing activities

Conclusion The education of preschool teachers does not end with the acquisition of a diploma, but implies a lifelong process of upgrading, improving and modernizing knowledge and skills through different forms of learning, training, cooperation and exchange within the framework of continuous professional development. In this process, PTTCs in Serbia try not to lose contact with their former students - current preschool teachers, because, as seen from this review, they can greatly assist them in planing and executing personal and professional development models, mostly by being a unique theory and practice meeting points.