The programme included expert presentations, workshops, discussion sessions and individual consultations with the UniLodz Teaching Excellence Team. Participants had the opportunity not only to discover new methods and tools, but above all to discuss teaching practice and share solutions applied across different faculties of the University of Lodz.
Teaching Matters and Begins with People
Contemporary higher education teaching presents academic teachers with new challenges. The ways in which knowledge is acquired are changing, as are students’ expectations and the tools used in the educational process. The development of artificial intelligence additionally encourages us to reconsider how classes, assignments and assessment methods should be designed.
Discussions held throughout the event clearly demonstrated that the response to these changes does not lie solely in new technologies. Equally important are the willingness to learn, experiment and continuously develop one’s teaching practice. Workshop participants discussed, among other topics, active learning, student engagement, course design, quality of education, teaching responsibility, as well as the conscious and responsible use of artificial intelligence.
The opportunity to confront theory with practice was an important element of the event. Invited experts, as well as UniLodz academic teachers and doctoral students, shared experiences and solutions that have proved effective in their everyday teaching activities. As a result, the Teaching Week became not only a space for acquiring knowledge but also an opportunity to reflect on individual teaching approaches.
The Student Perspective
One of the most important points of reference for contemporary teaching is the very group for whom it is created – students. Their learning styles, needs and expectations continue to evolve, which is why designing educational experiences requires attentiveness and a willingness to view the learning process from their perspective.
During the Teaching Week, considerable attention was devoted to creating classes that not only convey knowledge but also engage participants, encourage independent thinking and leave a lasting impact. Discussions focused on active learning methods, the design of assignments and assessments, the accessibility of the educational process, and ways of responding to the diverse needs of students.
Individual consultations conducted by the UniLodz Teaching Excellence Team also played an important role. They provided a space for discussing specific challenges, ideas and solutions related to participants’ teaching activities. Sometimes, a change in perspective allows us to notice opportunities that previously remained beyond our field of vision.
The Teaching Week therefore served as a reminder that modern teaching is not only about implementing new tools. Its essence lies above all in being attentive to students and treating them as active participants and co-creators of the educational process.
Exchange of Experience and Networking
The event also provided an opportunity for representatives of different disciplines, faculties and academic communities to meet and connect. Networking became an important element of the Teaching Week, both during the scheduled discussions and workshops and in the less formal conversations that accompanied the event.
The exchange of experience demonstrated that, regardless of the subjects they teach, academic teachers often face similar challenges.
The Teaching Week therefore created a space not only for learning from invited experts but also, perhaps above all, for learning from one another and jointly generating ideas for better and more engaging classes.
The first edition of the event demonstrated that the development of teaching is a process best carried out collectively. The University of Lodz aims to create a space open to new solutions, technologies and experiences, but above all to the needs of its academic community. After all, the future of teaching begins with people, their curiosity, openness to change, and willingness to share what works.
Photo Report from the Event
The UniLodz Teaching Week was organised as part of the project Aktywni – Program Rozwoju Dydaktyki i Kompetencji [Active: Teaching and Competence Development Programme] (FERS.01.05-IP.08-0307/25-00), co-financed by the European Union under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) within the European Funds for Social Development 2021–2027 Programme.
