The Institute for the Advancement of Education in Serbia has announced a new call for training program to support educator professional development, with a focus on aligning with national priorities and improving educational quality. 

The Institute for the Advancement of Education in Serbia has announced a new call for the approval of training program for the next three academic years: 2025/2026, 2026/2027, and 2027/2028. Institutions and trainers are invited to submit their proposals, which will be assessed for their alignment with national priorities and their ability to effectively contribute to the professional development of Serbia's educators.  

Professional development in Serbia is an ongoing process designed to constantly improve the competencies of teachers, educators, and school administrators. It is seen as essential for improving the learning outcomes of children and students, and forms part of a broader strategy to raise the quality of education. Under the current regulations, professional development is a mandatory part of educators’ work weeks and must align with both personal and institutional development plans, as well as broader education priorities. 

The latest call for training programs focuses on several criteria to ensure the effectiveness of professional development initiatives. Programs must contribute to the development of the competences of educators and be clearly aligned with Serbia’s educational priorities. A significant focus is placed on ensuring that the goals, content, outcomes, and methods of the programs are logically harmonized, contributing to systemic improvements in the quality of educational work. 

Programs can be delivered through direct work or remotely via the Internet. In-person training can involve groups of up to 30 participants, while online sessions can accommodate up to 45 participants per trainer. The length of the program varies, with in-person sessions being composed of eight to 24 hours, and online programs spanning two to five weeks with a maximum load of eight hours per week. 

To ensure high-quality training, the Institute for the Advancement of Education has set strict criteria for program approval. These include the relevance of the content to the educational sector, the adequacy of trainers and materials, and the practical applicability of the knowledge gained. Additionally, the programs will be evaluated based on the demonstrated results from past implementations, including the ability to apply learned skills in educational practice. In the autonomous province of Vojvodina, programs conducted in the languages of national minorities will be approved by the Pedagogical Institute of Vojvodina. 

Source: Eurydice Unit Serbia