University Pedagogy, mostly enhanced through the operation of Centres for Teaching and Learning (CTL), is a main pillar for the implementation of the European Higher Education Area. MAGNET project aims to develop a network for University Pedagogy in the West Balkans States, through know-how transfer from countries that have CTLs under operation to all partner countries. Main objectives include the know-how transfer, the foundation of CTLs, the production of educational material and the creation of a sustainable network BalkaNetUP (Balkan Network for University Pedagogy).

The AdminProject is a project management platform that has been designed with specific requirements of EU-funded projects in mind. It is a collaboration platform that puts all the tools we will need to replicate the MAGNET project in our on-line workspace.

Everyday management of the project under control, integrated into the framework and streamlining management operations.

The project kick-off meeting brings everyone together who will be involved in the project, to ensure they have a shared understanding of the project goals, deliverables and workflow.

This present document summarizes the consortium deliberations on three primary and one auxiliary objectives of the First General Meeting held in Tirana from 31 August to 2 September 2023. First, to review the Master-Plan for the Needs & Wants of Higher Education in the Western Balkans. Second, to report on advances to date in each partner HEI and plan subsequent actions related to WP3 (including but not limited to the BalkaNetUP establishment, the establishment of enhancement of CTLs among partner institutions, the development of MOOCs, etc.). Third, to monitor progress made to date in the project’s WPs. Last but not least, the meeting also strove to foster team building.

This present document summarizes the consortium discussions of the Second General Meeting held in Mitrovica from 31 May to 1 June 2024. During this gathering, partners delved into the significant progress made by MAGNET thus far. Key topic of focus included the updates on MOOC development within partner higher education institutions. Time was also dedicated monitoring the progress achieved in the project's various work packages as well as discussing and planning subsequent actions.

This present document summarizes the consortium discussions at the Third General Meeting held in Sarajevo from 21 to 22 March 2025.  During this gathering, partners presented the significant progress made by the MAGNET consortium thus far. Meeting focused on updates on MOOC platform and BALKANETUP status. Time was also dedicated monitoring the progress achieved in the project's various work packages and discussing and planning subsequent wrapping-up actions aimed to successful project completion.

Consortium Agreement

The Analysis & Master-Plan to Address the Needs & Wants of Higher Education in the Western Balkans report integrates the data and information gathered from the national reports on Higher Education Pedagogy situation of the participating countries in the Western Balkan region as well as the Needs Analysis Survey that was conducted in all participating Institutions.

A significant initiative of the MAGNET project is the establishment of the Balkan Network for University Education (BALKANETUP). This network aims to foster synergies, share best practices, and establish joint research initiatives to enhance policies and practices for the development of university education in the Western Balkans -and internationally. The BALKANETUP network connects HEIs, CTLs, scholars, and experts to advance teaching practices through shared resources, training, and research. BALKANETUP is a learning community for academics and scholars. By leveraging digital tools and fostering professional development, it supports educators in integrating modern techniques into their teaching. Ensuring its sustainability relies on expanding membership, forming partnerships, and maintaining a commitment to continuous improvement, positioning the BALKANETUP as a key driver of educational innovation in the region.

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) developed by the 12 consortium partners in the MAGNET project play a pivotal role in achieving its overarching goals. These courses are specifically designed to address the diverse and evolving needs of higher education institutions, focusing on enhancing teaching and learning practices. The MOOCs are tailored to faculty and teaching staff, offering structured programs that include seminars, workshops, and lectures presented as modular learning units. These units provide in-depth training on critical areas such as curriculum and teaching design, assessment methodologies, fostering critical thinking and soft skills, and the integration of ICT, digital tools, and virtual environments into pedagogical practices.

The Series of Workshops / Lectures / Seminars deliverable documents a range of teaching development programs conducted within the framework of the MAGNET project. These programs were designed to support faculty and teaching staff in higher education by enhancing their competencies in curriculum design, assessment strategies, critical thinking cultivation, soft skills development, and the integration of ICT and digital tools in teaching and learning.

Academics perceive teaching as a core aspect of their multifaceted professional duties. However, there is a recognized need to enhance teaching practices. Faculty members identify "good teaching" as being characterized by thorough preparation, extensive knowledge of the subject matter, effective communication with students, experience, ICT skills, and an inherent aptitude or "talent." Despite this, the importance of formal training and a foundational background in teaching and learning often receives less emphasis. Academics express a willingness to improve their teaching effectiveness through professional development initiatives, collaboration with colleagues, and the creation of networks to exchange ideas and best practices. Centers for Teaching and Learning (CTLs) are institutional units dedicated to enhancing teaching effectiveness, supporting faculty development, and improving student learning outcomes. They provide resources, training, and consultations aimed at fostering pedagogical excellence. CTLs function as hubs for professional learning, bringing together educators committed to continuous improvement

The main objective of this document is to achieve a participated development and validation of  the “Magnet Quality Monitoring Action Plan”. This document targets the members of the  MAGNET Executive Board, members of Consultative Assembly, members of Steering  Committee and members of Administrative Management. 

The MAGNET project started in December 2022 and will last until November 2025. Currently, the project is in the middle of implementation, therefore this report covers the period from the beginning to December 2022 until the end of May 2024. The first part of the deliverable describes the objectives and achieved results. The second part summarizes the work already done in the individual Work Packages, as part of communication, dissemination and exploitation activities, management activities and resources spent on the project. All deliverables delivered in the first part of the project and the milestones achieved are also presented while the third and final part contains conclusions and follow-up actions and next steps for the remaining work to be done.

The plan will specify the methods and means (dissemination channels) to communicate the project results, the most important of which will be the following:

• World Wide Web (project info site, blog, social media groups)
• Media coverage (newspapers, newsletters, professional publications)
• Events (Workshops/Conferences/Exhibitions)
• Partners’ existing networks of dissemination 
• Offline promotion actions (brochures/leaflets, etc.)

The MAGNET website serves as the project’s main dissemination tool and will be updated on a regular basis. The MAGNET website goal is twofold. First, it will be used as a dissemination tool among the MAGNET interested audience by providing information on the project’s activities, progress, and outcomes (Public section). Second, it will also be used as a tool among the project partners by offering access to all documentation and deliverables produced during the project (MAGNET Partners’ area).

The main communication and outreach channels to be employed by the knowledge awareness strategy of the project comprise:

• World Wide Web (project website and use of participative tools, as well as project databases relative to Teacher Academy, University Pedagogy etc.)
• Internet presence integrated with the most prominent Social Networking Services delivered by major portal tools such Drupal or/and Wordpress
• Publications in relevant forums, blogs & journals
• Media coverage (newspapers, newsletters, professional publications, tv/radio)
• Events (Workshops/Conferences/Exhibitions)
• Partners’ existing networks of dissemination (partners and associate partners belong to several networks dealing with digital learning and Open Educational Resources)
• Offline promotion actions (brochures/leaflets/roll up banners, etc.)
• Consortium internal communication and outreach channels
• Special interest groups