Diana Soares, coordinator of the Católica Learning Innovation Lab (CLIL), took part in the STAFF-DEV MASTERCLASS-2: Advanced Faculty Development – Fostering Educational Leadership and Educational Scholarship, held in Utrecht. This advanced training program focused on developing competencies in educational leadership and pedagogical research in higher education. Practical examples were explored to illustrate how educational leadership and pedagogical scholarship complement and reinforce each other, proving essential for those pursuing an academic career centered on education.
The CLIL coordinator, also a lecturer at the Faculty of Education and Psychology (FEP) and a researcher at the Research Centre for Human Development (CEDH), joined a group of international participants that included academics and experts from various European universities.
The event addressed the topic of advanced faculty development, with a focus on promoting educational leadership and pedagogical research—areas considered key to fostering quality and innovation in higher education. These dimensions require competencies that go beyond basic teaching skills, encompassing course design, curriculum development, and student learning assessment. Participants were challenged to build an evidence-informed vision and develop a concrete action plan to enhance these dimensions within their own institutions.
The masterclass took place from 8 to 10 October in Utrecht (The Netherlands) and holds particular relevance for universities with a well-established culture of teaching and learning enhancement, seeking to strengthen their faculty’s capacity for educational leadership and pedagogical research.
