Reporting*PROFFORMANCE Network Meeting - Kick-off for Institutional PROFFORMANCE Ambassadors
Report on the Kick-off of the PROFFORMANCE Professional Network
Budapest, November 8, 2024 – The PROFFORMANCE Institutional Ambassadors came together to held a kick-off meeting at the Tempus Public Foundation, marking a significant step towards creating the PROFFORMANCE professional community of practice. The event introduced key elements of the PROFFORMANCE+ project and its tools, specifically designed to support teacher and institutional development in the field of teaching and learning.
Dr. Márton Beke opened the event with an official welcome, highlighting the critical importance of professional network where institutional representatives have a forum to exchange experience and to find solutions to common challenges. He emphasized that, through PROFFORMANCE, institutions can foster a culture of continuous development and innovation in teaching practices.
Following the welcome, Dr. Linda Huszár introduced the PROFFORMANCE+ project and its complex toolkit aimed at supporting educational quality improvements. Her presentation covered the overarching goals of PROFFORMANCE+ and outlined how its toolkit offers practical support for educators and institutional leaders committed to enhancing teaching quality.
One of the key sessions, led by Szilvia Besze and Csilla Szabó, focused on existing assessment and development systems within institutions. During this knowledge-sharing segment, participants engaged in discussions on best practices and challenges related to implementing effective assessment of teachers. The session was designed to build on participants' own experiences, facilitating an open exchange of ideas and insights.
After a brief break, the program resumed with a detailed presentation of the PROFFORMANCE Assessment Tool (PAT), led by Szilvia Besze. This tool, central to the PROFFORMANCE+ project, enables institutions to plan development processes and apply structured evaluations for continuous improvement. This session not only covered the technical aspects of the tool but also discussed strategies for its integration, allowing participants to envision how PAT could support and complement their existing quality assurance frameworks.
The event concluded with a practical demonstration led by Csilla Szabó on the application of the PROFFORMANCE Assessment Tool (PAT). Participants were guided through a hands-on exercise, creating and managing their own institutional network on the PROFFORMANCE platform. This session illustrated the tool's versatility, demonstrating how it can be customized to fit each institution’s unique needs.
The kick-off event provided an opportunity for professionals across the higher education sector to connect, share expertise, and explore the potential of PROFFORMANCE tools in their institutions.
The next step will be the pilot test of the platform within the institutions and the community come together again in January, to discuss experience and to decide on the next steps and to further foster a collaborative, supportive community focused on enhancing teaching quality.
