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The aim of this article is to expose the emprise in curricular innovation of the Faculty of Humanities and Education (HUHEZI) at Mondragon University. This experience will be illustrated through the subject Cross-cultural Education and Values Education of the Teacher Training Degree (Infant and Primary Education Degrees). The practice described is located within the cooperative framework of Grupo Mondragón. This paper explains the keys and the institutional and collective process of the education project at HUHEZI. It portrays the development and the evolution of the subject afore mentioned from its early start (Teacher Training Degree in the academic year 2005-2006) to nowadays (2012- 2013). The core of the paper is the exposition of the organization of this subject, its methodology, participation means, staff training, its ongoing design, application, evaluation and the improvement of its cross-curricular perspective - all of which represent the main ingredients of the educational project of HUHEZI. Difficulties and challenges are also described, such as the need to balance the democratic means of participation with the academic and epistemological disciplines. The current financial struggle, the constant political alterations and the sudden socio-cultural changes are some other challenges to be faced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current crisis, unsustainable growth, financial scandals involves reflection on the role of universities in the professional training, particularly those who have to manage businesses. On this issue, there is a perception that the teaching of ethics and corporate social responsibility (CSR) is insufficient (Baetz and Sharp, 2004; Kashyap et al., 2006). In this regard, universities play a fundamental role due both to the impact of the incorporation of CSR into the design of their study and research programs, and its incorporation into universities' mission, vision, and corporate strategy (Muijen, 2004). Then, the present study focuses jon analyzing both the definition of educational objectives and skills development to be acquired by students as the level of inclusion of CSR offered by Spanish universities. In particular, the present paper focuses on analyzing reports verified by National Agency for Quality Assessment of degrees related to the organizational management area implemented in the 2010-2011 academic course, which degrees has been developed based on European Higher Education Area. Based on previous papers, the results of the present paper show that the Bologna process and the Higher Education reform in Spanish universities have promoted an increase of the presence of CSR in the business education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the experience carried out by a confederation of Higher Education Institution (IUS) operating in six states of Latin America. To achieve the goal of new model of teaching and learning based on "learning process" and shift the paradigm of learning as "centered teaching", the Higher Education Institution have defined a new profile of the university teachers. This action expresses three characteristics presented in this paper: the first refers at the profile as "product" of a Community of Thought; the second refers to "participated process", a working model that allowed the co-construction of the profile with the teachers, the administrative and the human resources staff of the universities; the [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper recognizes the way in which scientific knowledge has reached center stage, have opposed the dogmatic arguments, cultural and ideological beliefs uncritically established for years. The scientific achievements allow for changes inhuman conceptions to transform the perception, interpretation and interaction between humans and their environment critically and reflectively. This essay re-creates the complexity and impact for which they had to move evolutionary ideas in some states of the American Union, the situation in Argentina and finally the case of Mexico, which all fall similarities and differences. Similarities in the difficulties and differences in the acceptance, management of time and the influence of beliefs about the origin and formation of our planet. Beyond the passage of a controversial debate, this paper frames a reflection that searches there adersaw are of the role played by the University in the transmission of knowledge and critical discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper relates two basic aspects of assessment evaluation in higher education (Formative Assessment and Competency Assessment) with the existence of an Inter-University Network that carries five years working these issues systematically. First, we analyze the state of the Formative and Shared Assessment in Higher Education. Second, we explain the organization and operation of the Network of Formative Assessment in Higher Education: purpose, basic methodology of work, different actions and framework: innovation projects and educational research, seminars, action-research, dissemination of results, annual conferences and thematic work-groups. We also present the main results, organized into four sections: a-advantages; b-cons, problems and possible solutions; c-influence on academic performance; d-load of work required by teachers and pupils. In the third and final section of the paper we explain the fundamental aspects of Competency Assessment in Higher Education, the changes required and the importance of coherence among curriculum elements, in this sense, we provide a practical application that we hope will be helpful in achieving higher level of coherence in our curriculum subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the effect of massive access to higher education on teaching at a public Argentine Law School. It describes the general background of the phenomenon and outlines the main consequences of teaching Law in overcrowded classrooms. Then, it defines the underlying epistemology, the theories of learning and the predominant educational approach applied by law school professors. Next, it observes how expanded access to Law School defies the educational goals of the institution. It concludes by offering an alternative educational proposal to still achieve the objectives in overcrowded classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout the last decades of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first, the teaching of English for specific and/or professional and academic purposes has probably constituted one of the most innovative areas in the Spanish University. With the advent of the Bologna reform, the theory and praxis of this dynamic field of knowledge has enhanced its range of activity, so as to include not only students, but also lecturers, whithin its concerns. The result can be measured by the innumerable variety of CLIL (Content Language Integrated Learning) teacher training experiences carried out along the Spanish Tertiary Education geography. This paper has two main purposes: on one hand, to give the account of the CLIL teacher training at the UPCT (included in the larger frame of teaching innovation programs), under its corresponding theoretical approach and bearing in mind the particular circumstances of the institution. On the other hand, to pose questions about the future perspectives of similar experiences in a teaching context that is becoming more and more complex and 'hybrid' from its very foundations. The partial conclusions of this study depict a global teaching/professional scenario that is both challenging and appealing, which must be seriously dealt with from the Universities and our common European administrative framework alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we aim to address some issues of equity in higher education, from the particular perspective of Latin American reality. Our interest is highlight the fact of the theoretical and methodological positions through which equity policies are defined in the field of higher education and how social meanings and ways are established around them. In the first part, a brief description of the scenarios of higher education in Latin America is done, both in regard to the socio-political structural processes and the dynamics of higher education systems. In the second part, a conceptual reconstruction is approached to allow us to show the movements operating in university policies in recent decades which have resulted in the implementation of the so called policies of equity. In the third part of the paper, different levels of specification of the concept of equity in university dynamics are analyzed, which account for their productive potential practices. Finally, we describe some of the most important initiatives displayed in recent years by some countries of the region framed in equity policies, focusing on their effects and scope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic writing in European higher education is a little explored field hidden behind fifty major language and fifty national educational systems of which it is part. The article aims at developing a perspective for studying the diversity of writing in Europe and finding a shared language for analyzing student writing. The article recaps baselines theories for the teaching of writing and reports on three important European writing traditions. The main part of the paper is devoted to three foundational conceptions for writing: The role of genres in understanding student writing, the function of writing practices for the organization of student writing and the meaning of writing competences for the teaching of writing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of quality management systems in Degree and Master education programmes offers a great opportunity to face some of the most persistent problems and challenges in Spanish higher education. In this context, it is possible to think of new institutional coordination schemes to expand and deepen into the idea of a study as an evolving joint project driven by a coordinated teaching team. However, in order that these new quality management systems become powerful agents for change in teaching culture, coordination and true improvement of the students' learning experience, they need to be thought, specifically, from an internal enhancement perspective and not from the usual external quality assurance perspective or as a device for external accountability. On one hand, it implies that quality management systems should be designed as actual academic coordination and government structures, with capacity for effective intervention on the curricula and learning processes of the studies. On the other hand, the ability of these systems for empowering deep enhancing changes on learning experiences depends on are spect of the diversity and ownership of studies and individuals, on fostering the presence of the students' voice inside the coordination system, on giving support to leadership inside the teaching team responsible of the study and on designing good internal and formative assessment procedures. This paper, grounded on the experience at the Universidad de Zaragoza, proposes a synthesis of these requirements in ten principles for a quality management system in higher education programmes specifically oriented toward the enhancement of the students' learning experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European System of Credit Transfer (ECTS) expresses a true change in the methodology of the European Higher Education. A more advanced model in which the student changes teaching and learning based in knowledge reception, to a new education, raised on skills development in students. This system demand training teachers to teach to learn and, therefore, it requires a bigger responsibility of the students in their own education, something that does nothing but aggravate the difficulties of disabled students. In public universities, there are 7.408 disabled students, the 0.53% of total students, according to the White Paper on Disability at the University carried out based on data CERMI. As for private universities, and with the available data, the percentage of students with disabilities is 0.24%. The Universities Act requires individual attention to disabled students, but in practice as we can see there are still barriers caused mainly by poor organization and for an almost nonexistent teaching material adapted to the special needs that are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the perceptions of students from different subject areas as regards student assessment procedures in the University of Santiago de Compostela. We believe that an awareness of how the perceptions of these different groups coincide, can offer insights into the cultural manifestations present in student assessment, as well as providing valuable information on the strengths and weaknesses to consider in any attempt at improving the quality of university education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]