1. Predictors of Preschool Teachers’ Environmental Activities in Kindergarten : A Path to a Sustainable FutureMarina Semiz, 2025, independent scientific component part or a chapter in a monograph Abstract: In line with the priorities of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the growing emphasis on competencies for sustainable development in education, early childhood and preschool education are increasingly recognized as critical stages for fostering environmental awareness and designing sustainable curricula. As key educational agents, preschool teachers play a central role in implementing environmental initiatives in kindergartens and nurturing environmentally responsible attitudes and behaviours in young children. This paper presents findings from a study examining the predictors of preschool teachers’ engagement in environmental activities, with a focus on selected personal and sociodemographic variables: years of service, education level, teaching group, and the development of environmental competencies. The study involved a sample of 101 preschool teachers from four administrative districts in Serbia. Data were collected using two instruments: one measuring the development of environmental competencies and another assessing the frequency of environmental activities implemented in kindergartens. The results indicate that teachers’ environmental competencies have a direct and moderately positive influence on their engagement in environmental practices. Strengthening these competencies increases the likelihood of preschool teachers’ involvement in environmentally sustainable practices. Other examined variables did not emerge as significant predictors of participation in environmental initiatives. The multiple regression analysis accounted for approximately 31% of the variance in the frequency of environmental activities, highlighting the need for future research to explore additional predictive factors. Based on the findings, the development and implementation of targeted training and professional development programmes are recommended to further enhance preschool teachers’ environmental competencies.
Keywords: sustainable development, environmental education, environmental well-being, environmental skills, preschool teachers
Published in RUP: 26.01.2026; Views: 225; Downloads: 0
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2. The Digital Competence of Foreign Language Teachers at HEI in Serbia : A Study based on the European framework DigCompEduDanijela Ljubojević, Nikoleta Gutvajn, 2025, independent scientific component part or a chapter in a monograph Abstract: In recent years, considerable literature has grown up around the theme of digital education at higher education institutions. The issue has grown in importance in light of Covid-19 pandemic, which made teachers face rapidly changing demands. However, the question remains what this abrupt change has brought when it comes to the development of digital competences of teachers. This study therefore set out to determine the level of digital competence of foreign language teachers working at HEI in Serbia, as well as to (self-) assess their strengths and identify areas of improvement. In order to carry out this study, a questionnaire of 33 questions was implemented based on the DigCompEdu framework. The European Framework for the Digital Competence of Educators (DigCompEdu) lists 22 competences organised in six areas: Professional engagement, Digital resources, Teaching and learning, Assessment, Empowering learners, Facilitating Learners’ Digital Competence. The findings of this study show that the actual level of digital competences of teachers is A2+/B1. They also outline concrete and feasible national, institutional and interinstitutional policy recommendations to enhance the development of digital competences in higher education.
Keywords: foreign language teachers, digital competences, DigCompEdu
Published in RUP: 22.12.2025; Views: 183; Downloads: 0
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5. Promoting sustainable medical education through digital competence : a cross-sectional pilot studySabina Ličen, Mirko Prosen, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: The increasing digitalisation of medical education requires teachers to have a broad range of competences that go beyond basic technical knowledge. This pilot cross-sectional study assessed the self-perceived digital competence of medical faculty members and examined differences by professional role, experience and gender. Of 298 eligible staff, 48 participated (response rate 16.1%), including 19 women (39.6%) and 29 men (60.4%). The data was collected via an online survey using the validated Digital Competence Scale for University Teachers, which comprises four subscales: digital literacy, digital skills, digital interaction and technology integration. The overall median score indicated a generally high level of self-perceived digital competence, with 95% bootstrap confidence intervals confirming this pattern. Assistant professors achieved higher scores in all subscales than associate and full professors. Self-perceived digital competence was positively correlated with participation in structured training, higher interest and frequency of use of digital tools, while age and teaching experience were negatively correlated. The findings suggest unequal levels of self-perceived digital competence across the academic status and highlight the positive association of self-perceived digital competence with participation in targeted, practical and inclusive training programmes.
Keywords: sustainable education, medical education, university teachers, faculty development, digital teaching
Published in RUP: 28.09.2025; Views: 553; Downloads: 16
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6. Different approaches to early childhood education for sustainability from the preschool teacher’s perspectiveAleksandra Šindić, Adrijana Višnjić-Jevtić, Jurka Lepičnik-Vodopivec, 2025, original scientific article Keywords: education for sustainable development, early childhood education, social sustainability, preschool teachers, macro-level approach, micro-level approach
Published in RUP: 11.09.2025; Views: 583; Downloads: 2
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7. Using inquiry-based learning for developing university students’ digital skillsMojca Žefran, Silva Bratož, 2025, independent scientific component part or a chapter in a monograph Abstract: In recent years, the development of digital skills has been encouraged at all levels of education. For this purpose, innovative pedagogies and approaches aimed at fostering learners’ active participation, critical skills, and autonomy have been proposed. In this paper, we focus on the benefits of using the inquiry-based approach (IBL) for developing education students’ digital skills. A design-based study was conducted with a group of students (n=38) in the primary education study programme with a view to identifying students’ attitudes towards IBL as well as their experiences and challenges encountered in the process. The design-based scenario followed the 5E inquiry-based instructional model (engagement, exploration, explanation, elaboration, and evaluation). Data for this study was gathered through an online survey, a focus group discussion, and through an in-depth analysis of the IBL scenario. The results indicate that students hold positive attitudes towards IBL. The most significant challenge identified was the application of critical thinking skills to locate and evaluate relevant research sources.
Keywords: digital skills, inquiry-based learning, pre-service primary school teachers, critical thinking
Published in RUP: 20.06.2025; Views: 1068; Downloads: 13
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8. Higher education mix (four Bs of higher education institutions) : for Boštjan Žekš and, to a lesser extent, followers of E. Jerome McCarthyIgor Rižnar, 2022, professional article Keywords: teachers, education systems, policy makers, students, rote learning, understanding
Published in RUP: 06.11.2023; Views: 1957; Downloads: 9
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10. Primary school teachers' views on their autonomyJurka Lepičnik-Vodopivec, 2016, original scientific article Abstract: In the paper we discuss primary school teachers' views of their own autonomy. In the introduction we present the theoretical premises and the views of different authors. In spite of the different views on understanding teacher's autonomy, it can be summed up it is a complex, multi-layered and important factor of teacher's activities. It appears at different levels and relations in the education process. Here we highlight the significance of decentralisation of school that influences teacher's authority and tasks, as with decentralisation the power and responsibility of decision-making is transferred from the national to the school level, which means the significance of school autonomy-and thus also of teachers' autonomy-is strengthened. In the second part the results of an empirical study carried out on the sample of 104 primary school teachers from 30 randomly selected basic schools in Slovenia are presented. We found primary school teachers estimate they are autonomous in their work. To the largest extent teacher's autonomy is influenced by regulation in education, by the curriculum, and by professional qualifications, and the least by parents. They link their own autonomy to independence in making decisions about choosing the methods of teaching and the selection of teaching resources they use at the performance level of teaching. According to the estimate of surveyed teachers they have less autonomy in selecting textbooks, which can be attributed to enforcing the policy of joint procurement and to the decisions of school authorities regarding the introduction of the latter into school practice.
Keywords: avtonomija, vzgojitelji, poučevanje, metode, autonomy, teachers, forms, methods, teaching
Published in RUP: 08.08.2016; Views: 4863; Downloads: 386
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