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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Las directrices establecidas por la European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education/ENQA contemplan la necesidad de que, para asegurar la calidad de la educación superior, se facilite la formación del profesorado y el desarrollo profesional docente de este. Las universidades están llamadas, pues, a ofrecer oportunidades de formación a su profesorado de manera que este pueda actualizar sus competencias docentes y mantener la tensión permanente por la innovación educativa.

The University of La Laguna already has a long track record in this regard, resulting from its commitment to respond not only to the mandate of certain legal provisions, but also as a consequence of its conviction that by responding to the needs detected and the demands for training and innovation of its teaching staff, the foundations are laid to advance in the implementation of a dynamic teaching style, centered on the student, where collaboration between teachers, reflection, teamwork, educational research and its transfer to teaching practice prevail.

At this time, given the University of La Laguna's track record in this area and the experience accumulated in the design and implementation of Teacher Training Plans, the advisability and necessity of proposing a new formulation of the teacher training and innovation offerings has become apparent. This formulation specifically seeks to link training processes with innovation processes, understanding them as inseparable parts of the same reality. It prioritizes the promotion of methodological changes in training processes, shifting from the traditional teacher-centered teaching-learning model to a student-centered one that responds more effectively to the demands and needs of an increasingly diverse student body. This new model, in addition to the mere acquisition of knowledge, must also incorporate the following into teaching practice: a) learning systems centered on active student participation, b) student collaboration with peers, c) problem-solving and the development of independent work skills, and d) the critical analysis of different realities.

Ultimately, the goal is to foster the acquisition of skills by students, positioning them optimally to face the changing landscape of employment, the demands of citizenship, and their own personal fulfillment. To achieve this, it is essential to provide ongoing training and professional development for faculty in a range of methodologies, techniques, and educational resources that enable the implementation of this new approach to teaching in the classroom, thus facilitating the attainment of these educational objectives. Furthermore, in relation to this need, the accreditation processes for university faculty increasingly consider the teacher training acquired and its application in their teaching practice. Therefore, it is crucial to promote effective training models that place the student at the heart of the entire learning process.

In light of all these considerations, the University of La Laguna presents this postgraduate degree in University Teaching. The program addresses training in the application of best practices for improving teaching performance, as well as the promotion of educational innovation. It is a training program in teaching innovation that integrates resources and experiences, addressing the different levels of the university professor's role, from tasks directly related to teaching to those involving specific student support, innovation, and quality management. The degree is designed from the perspective of professional development for faculty, based on reflection and inquiry into teaching practice, autonomy, motivation, and collaboration among faculty within an ethical framework of professional development.

On the other hand, while the Expert in University Teaching qualification is aimed at all faculty members of the University of La Laguna, it is true that its conception and design have been tailored to meet the training needs primarily of newly hired faculty. The university in general, and the University of La Laguna in particular, is undergoing a generational transition, and it is important that the new group of faculty members who will lead education in the coming decades develop a high-quality educational model that aligns with the new trends and approaches to learning currently being advocated.